World Cup: Manchester United signs Mexico’s Javier Hernandez

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Six months ago, Javier Hernandez was close to quitting soccer. On Thursday, he became an international soccer star.

Hernandez, the 21-year-old scoring leader for the Mexican national team, has agreed to a transfer to Manchester United of the English Premier League. Hernandez’s Mexican club, Chivas of Guadalajara, will receive an undisclosed transfer fee once Hernandez obtains a work permit, The striker, who sustained a thigh strain last week, has already passed a physical, the English club said.

Hernandez, who was named to Mexico’s preliminary World Cup roster and has 10 goals in eight games for Chivas this year, is expected to join that team in training camp this weekend. He won’t begin his assignment in England until after the World Cup.

‘I am delighted to reach agreement with Chivas to bring such an exciting young striker, who has been in such prolific form for both his club and his country,’ Manchester United Manager Sir Alex Ferguson said. ‘He will be a great addition to our squad, and we look forward to welcoming our first Mexican player in the summer.’

As part of the agreement between Manchester United and Chivas, Manchester United will travel to Guadalajara to play the Mexican club in the opening match in Chivas’ long-delayed 45,000-seat stadium July 30

‘We are equally excited to play our first game in Mexico, opening the magnificent new Chivas stadium in July,’ Ferguson said.

Frustrated by a lack of playing time, Hernandez nearly walked away from soccer to concentrate on his college studies in business administration. But he came off the bench in last fall’s Apertura to score 11 goals in 18 games, earning a tryout with the national team this winter, and he hasn’t looked back since.

-- Kevin Baxter