Guillermo Franco is returning to his native Argentina to play for reigning Copa Libertadores champion Estudiantes de La Plata. The Mexican striker will join Estudiantes after Mexico's game against Honduras on Sept. 9. Franco played for Valencia since 2006, but the club didn't opt to bring Franco back for the 2009-10 season. Franco said that he wanted to stay in Europe.
"My desire was to continue in Europe," Franco said. "Things did not work out that way and I had to make a decision. I wanted to go to an important club where I would have the change to be a difference-maker. I know the manager there well and has been talking to me for a month now. Estudiantes plays in league, the Club World Cup, Libertadores, so I believe I'll get a lot of minutes there and that's what I need. So I'm going to Estudiantes for a year." Franco also spent seven seasons with Monterrey in Mexico, where he scored 63 goals. He played for Mexico in the 2006 World Cup.