Aaron Ramsey has brought an abrupt end to his time in Mexico, mutually terminating his contract with Pumas UNAM to return to the UK after the search for his missing dog, Halo.
The former Arsenal midfielder, 34, joined the Mexican side in the summer, becoming the first British-born player to appear in Liga MX.
However, his short spell in Mexico has been overshadowed by personal anguish after Halo, his family’s 10-year-old beagle, disappeared earlier this month in San Miguel de Allende.
Ramsey’s wife, Colleen Ramsey, revealed that the family had received “no body, no footage, and a bunch of lies” following the dog’s disappearance from a local boarding facility. Halo had been wearing a GPS tracking collar at the time she went missing, but no trace has been found despite extensive searches.
The midfielder initially offered a $10,000 reward for Halo’s safe return before doubling it to $20,000, describing the dog as part of the family. With no progress and the Ramseys increasingly distraught, Pumas granted him time away from football to focus on the search.
Ramsey, who made just six appearances for the club and scored once, has now ended his one-year contract, which included an option to extend. Reports in Mexico state that the decision was taken by mutual consent after discussions with Pumas officials, who accepted his wish to return home.
The Welshman’s decision has drawn mixed reactions locally. Pumas fans largely expressed sympathy, but television analyst Damián Zamoginly criticised the move, calling it “unprofessional”.
Speaking to TUDN, Zamoginly said: “What Aaron Ramsey did was unprofessional. First by going away for two weeks for having lost his dog and then leaving the team without contributing anything. They brought a reinforcement with little desire to be on the pitch.”