Grupo Caliente negotiates the purchase of a historic Chilean club

Chilean football may soon welcome a new foreign investor. Grupo Caliente, the Mexican company that owns Liga MX clubs Xolos de Tijuana and Querétaro, is reportedly in advanced talks to acquire Chilean first division side O'Higgins de Rancagua. According to Récord, the Abumohor family, which currently controls O'Higgins, has been holding discussions with Grupo Caliente as part of a strategic expansion into South American football.

At the center of the deal is Argentine businessman Christian Bragarnik, who is negotiating on behalf of the Mexican group. Bragarnik, a powerful figure in football circles across Latin America and Europe, previously made waves in Chile when he took charge of Unión La Calera in 2015, helping the club achieve promotion. He currently owns Spanish club Elche, which competes in the Segunda División.

This move echoes the acquisition of Everton de Viña del Mar by Mexico’s Grupo Pachuca, marking a broader trend of Mexican investment in Chilean football. O'Higgins, despite a modest start to the 2025 season with just two wins, remains unbeaten and recently secured a convincing victory over Deportes Limache. The team’s steady form provides room for patient negotiation, but any ownership change could signal a new chapter for the club.

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