Photo courtesy Chivas USA

Chivas USA announced today they have signed Mexican midfielder Mariano Trujillo, who has been in camp with the team since late February.

The 31-year-old product of the Pumas youth system played 284 Mexican First Division games (233 starts) for Pumas UNAM, Santos Laguna, Morelia and, most recently, Atlante.

“We are pleased to add a player of Mariano Trujillo’s experience to our squad,” said Chivas USA Coach Preki. “We hope that his speed, technical ability and versatility will be a great addition.”

Given the club’s injuries, it’s likely it’s his versatility that’s particularly valuable.

“I’m really happy to join up with Chivas USA for the new season,” Trujillo said. “It’s something I’d been hoping would happen for some time, and, thank God, it’s become a reality. Now I’m hoping that everything goes well this weekend and I can make my debut with the team.”

“I’d definitely thought about playing in MLS sooner rather than later, and now the possibility of playing with Chivas USA has become a reality. .. It’s a new experience for me.”

BTW, the twice-capped Mexican international has a green card and was a teammate of Eduardo Lillingston on the Mexican squad at the 1997 World Youth Championship in Malaysia.

He’s awaiting an International Transfer Certificate, but like Lillingston should be available for the season opener in Carson Saturday against the Colorado Rapids.

This will bring the Chivas roster up to 24, the max, BTW, when the two receive their clearances. Because Chivas USA will have two developmental players (Gerson Mayen and goalkeeper Lance Parker) and 24 senior roster slots they must somehow get rid of two senior players. Rather than waiving anyone, that’s more likely to result in a couple of the long-term injured (Sasha Victorine springs to mind) on the disabled list, getting them off the roster for six games.

Also, defender Ante Jazic’s concussion, which was sustained last Thursday in training and kept him out of the final preseason game, is indeed expected to cause him to miss this weekend’s game.

Lillingston’s hamstring issue I mentioned Wednesday is more a “nagging” type of injury and is unlikely to keep him off the field (especially considering the slew of other injuries the team is dealing with), according to the team.

Meanwhile, Chelsea, Inter Milan, AC Milan and Club America will hold a press conference in New York Tuesday announcing a likely tournament between the teams next summer both on the East Coast and here in L.A as mentioned by various sources for some time.

Questions:
Will Beckham receive permission from the Galaxy to play in the L.A.game for his apparently once and future employers?

Will this be held in the middle of the Confederations Cup with few stars actually involved (even for cursory 30-45 minute appearances)?

Is my cynicism showing?

Stay tuned.