A scout for City Football Group, Luciano Zavagno, attended a match against Necaxa at Estadio Banorte to observe Cruz Azul's 25-year-old Mexican midfielder, Erik Lira. Zavagno was with Lira's representative, Mauricio Medrano, who is responsible for presenting any formal offers to the Cruz Azul board. The observation occurred amidst speculation that Lira's future might be in the Premier League or LaLiga. European interest in the player has reportedly increased following his performances for Mexico during the March international break. Following the match, Lira stated that it could have been his last appearance for the club and that he is working towards a move to Europe. City Football Group, which controls several teams such as Girona in LaLiga and Manchester City, offers various potential destinations for the player. The player, who has 22 international caps, has a contract with the Mexican club that is valid until 2029, and his current market value on Transfermarkt is €12.00m. Besides the City Football Group, other European clubs such as Ajax, Lens, and Benfica have also been linked with the player. Reports from April 2026 that linked Lens and Benfica with an interest in the player also estimated his market value at approximately €10 million. His most recent transfer was from Pumas UNAM to Cruz Azul in January 2022 for a reported fee of €4.0 million.