Peruvian forward Paolo Guerrero has confirmed that he will not be playing for the Universidad César Vallejo team in 2024 due to threats his mother received from criminals. Despite signing a contract for the upcoming season, Guerrero and his family decided against it for safety reasons.
Guerrero expressed his desire to play for Vallejo and in the city of Trujillo, but after his mother received threatening messages last week, they decided it was best to not go through with it. The messages, sent by criminals from Trujillo, suggested that Guerrero should adjust to their “rhythm” and collaborate with the organization, or face consequences.
The striker also expressed solidarity with the citizens of Trujillo, which the Peruvian State declared an emergency in due to an increase in crime. César Vallejo had announced their agreement with Guerrero earlier this month, marking his first time playing in the national tournament.
However, Guerrero, who has never played in the national tournament despite having a successful career abroad, will not be joining the team due to concerns for his and his family’s safety. This decision comes as a disappointment to fans who were looking forward to seeing Guerrero play in his native country.