Businessman José Miguel Bejos, owner of Pericos de Puebla, is among those interested in acquiring Guadalajara's Club Atlas, as confirmed by Alejandro Irarragorri González, president of Orlegi Sports. The current owners seek to transfer the club to elevate it to a higher level. Bejos is one of the candidates in an advanced process, though no exclusivity exists.
Guadalajara's Club Atlas is in the sale process, with José Miguel Bejos emerging as a prominent candidate. Alejandro Irarragorri González, president of Orlegi Sports' Board of Administration—owners of Atlas, Santos Laguna, and Real Sporting de Gijón—revealed Bejos's interest during statements in Spain. “We have to pass the baton to another group that can take Atlas where it should be. It is a team with a great fan base,” Irarragorri stated.
In December, Orlegi Sports denied rumors of interest from the Bahrain Mumtalakat Holding Company group and confirmed that “various groups are actively participating” in the process. Irarragorri detailed that they are working with a U.S. investment bank and several interested parties. “We are in process with a U.S. investment bank, with various funds that have joined the process and several interested parties. And yes, I know José Miguel Bejos well: he is a good friend, a great businessman, he has companies here in Asturias and his group is one of the parties in the process,” he noted. He added that Bejos is one of two or three in a more advanced stage, but “we are not in exclusivity with anyone”.
In December, Mikel Arriola, commissioner of the Mexican Football Federation, mentioned that Atlas is for sale through an investment bank, without further details.
José Miguel Bejos is known in sports as the owner of Pericos de Puebla, a team he acquired in late 2018 after the previous owner, Gerardo Benavidez Pape, decided not to participate in the 2019 season. Under his management, Pericos won the Mexican Baseball League championship in 2023, their fifth title. Bejos directs Grupo Promotor de Desarrollo e Infraestructura (Prodi) and chairs Mota-Engil México, an engineering and construction firm involved in projects such as the Tren Maya, Mexico-Toluca Train, sections of Guadalajara's electric train, the Texcoco airport, and the Siervo de la Nación highway.
A graduate of Universidad Anáhuac, Bejos is vice president of Compañía Inversora Corporativa (CIC), the family holding company. His father, Jesús Alfredo Miguel Afif, chairs the Mexican Lebanese Business Chamber, and his grandfather, José Miguel Nader, was a businessman. The family group operates in outdoor advertising, mass transit, aeronautics, and maritime activities, including Generadora Fénix for hydroelectric plants and a recent contract with Pemex for a fertilizer plant.
