'Forget' Malaysia National Team, Naturalized Star Focuses on Saving Club Career

With the CAS temporarily suspending FIFA's ban, Imanol Machuca has spoken out to close the chapter on the Malaysia national team controversy and concentrate on rescuing his club career.

Imanol Machuca, one of the seven players involved in the naturalization scandal of the Malaysia national team, has broken his silence for the first time after a long period of quiet. The Argentine midfielder affirmed that he no longer wants to revisit the turbulent times with the national team and instead prioritizes stabilizing his career at Velez Sarsfield following months of upheaval.

Machuca was born in Argentina to a family holding Argentine nationality. He once claimed Malaysian heritage through his grandmother, but FIFA confirmed this was untrue. The documents provided by the Football Association of Malaysia (FAM) were found to be forged, leading to severe disciplinary actions against him and six other teammates, triggering a major crisis in Malaysian football.

After FIFA imposed a 12-month suspension and a fine, Machuca faced a difficult period with his career nearly halted, while the Malaysia national team risked forfeiting matches where ineligible players were fielded, including their win over Vietnam. However, the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) approving a suspension of the ban allowed the 26-year-old midfielder to return to football activities, enabling him to close the controversy and focus on getting his club career back on track.

In an interview with El Show de Velez, Machuca candidly shared: "What happened is in the past. Now, I am focused on Velez Sarsfield and feeling calmer. I am grateful that everything was resolved after a complicated four-month period (due to FIFA's suspension). That issue is behind me, and I am concentrating on the future. This experience has definitely made me stronger, and I am very happy to be back representing my club."

The Argentine midfielder admitted he still needs time to regain top form after a long stretch of individual training. He added: "I am excited to return to playing, but I also know it will take time to fully regain my fitness. Currently, my condition is good despite training alone previously, but the key difference is that I lack official match minutes."

Meanwhile, the legal proceedings are not yet concluded. According to updates from the AFC, the seven involved players are currently only allowed to play at club level and are not yet eligible to rejoin the national team. FAM has appealed to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), with a hearing scheduled for February 26, 2026, to decide the final fate of these players.

The upcoming ruling is seen as a turning point not only for Machuca but also for Malaysian football. If the appeal fails, FIFA's sanctions will be fully enforced, effectively closing the door on their national team returns. For Machuca, the choice is clear: leave the mistakes behind and focus on saving his future career at club level.