Jonathan dos Santos was seen visibly emotional after what could have been his last match for América, and the club has already moved to keep him. Fernando Esquivel of 365 Scores reported that América’s board has made a decision on the midfielder and has put a six-month contract extension on the table that would keep him linked to the team until December.

The timing matters because América was eliminated in the semifinals of the Clausura 2026, leaving the club to reassess its roster with June 30 now looming as the date on which dos Santos’s current contract ends. What had looked like a farewell scene may instead be the start of a short extension, one that would give América cover through the rest of the year rather than forcing an immediate replacement.

André Jardine has been central to that decision. The coach asked the club to retain Jonathan dos Santos for at least another six months, and he sees him as an important piece in his tactical system. Jardine also would not want to experiment with new faces in dos Santos’s position, a preference that appears to have pushed América toward the quicker and safer option of renewing a familiar player instead of opening a search for a new one.

That approach also explains what has not happened. América has not started talks for Denzell García, even though Chivas would have taken the lead in the race for the player. The club also would not have advanced on Luis Chávez for Apertura 2026. For now, the priority is clear: renew Jonathan dos Santos before signing another player, and accept that the market may move around América while it waits.

The board’s choice could leave Chivas with the advantage in the Denzell García pursuit, while América focuses on a veteran whose role is already defined. If the extension is finalized, dos Santos will stay through December and América will buy time, but not certainty, as it tries to reshape the squad after an abrupt end to Clausura 2026.