Tigres Legend Gerónimo Barbadillo Reveals Pressure from Directors to Hand Number 7 to Ángel Correa

Gerónimo Barbadillo, a legendary figure in the history of Tigres UANL, stated that he was pressured by club leadership to allow Argentine forward Ángel Correa to wear the iconic number 7 shirt.

The jersey had been officially retired for 43 years in honor of the Peruvian star’s contributions to the Monterrey-based club, including two Liga MX titles in the 1977/78 and 1981/82 seasons, as well as the 1975/76 Cup.

The revelation surfaced during the 2026 International Football Hall of Fame induction ceremony in Pachuca, where Barbadillo addressed the controversy surrounding the decision made in June 2025. According to reports from TyC Sports, the former player claimed he received daily phone calls from officials regarding the request.

Pressure from the front office

Barbadillo, who secured two Liga MX titles with the club during his tenure, expressed his frustration with the process. He told reporters that while he did not object to the number being used again, he believed the gesture was premature given the circumstances. “They pressured me, they called me on the phone every day that passed,” Barbadillo said during his appearance.

Additional coverage by Radio Fórmula noted that the pressure allegedly originated from directors at CEMEX. Barbadillo argued that a player should earn the right to wear a retired number through major achievements within the institution, stating that Correa "had not done anything" for the club at the time of his arrival.

The former star noted he had watched Correa play in Spain, where he was recognized as a great player, but insisted that the significance of the number required a deeper connection to the team’s history. Barbadillo even considered if the Monterrey supporters and the university were in agreement with the move, as he felt the jersey represented the fans and the club’s heritage.

The warning to Correa

Despite his reservations, Barbadillo eventually agreed to the request and traveled to Monterrey to hand the jersey to the Argentine personally before the start of the 2025 Apertura season.

During the ceremony on the pitch of the Estadio Universitario, ahead of the opening match against Club América, he delivered a pointed message to the new signing. reported that the former star told him: “I hope you give as many triumphs to the city of Monterrey and to Tigres as I have; if not, you return it to me.”

The sentiment was echoed by POSTA Deportes, which highlighted that Barbadillo acknowledged Correa’s talent from his time in Spain but maintained that the significance of the number required a deeper connection to the team’s history.

Ángel Correa leaves Tigres after 54 matches

Ángel Correa’s time with Tigres concluded after 54 matches and 23 goals, a stint that did not yield a league title. The status of the number 7 jersey following his exit remains a point of interest for supporters, as the club has not issued further statements regarding whether the number will be retired once more.