Joel Campbell Rejects Raúl Pinto’s Claims on X

Joel Campbell rejected Raúl Pinto’s claims on X after the former Alajuelense president said the forward wanted to join Saprissa. Campbell said he had not spoken publicly in months and accused Pinto of using his name for political campaigning. The dispute now sits at the edge of Alajuelense politics and Campbell’s unresolved future for Apertura 2026.

Campbell answers on X

Campbell’s response was direct. He wrote, "No he dado ninguna declaración desde hace meses y ahora quiere hacer campaña política con mi nombre". He also added, "No me tomo nada personal… pero este tipo de mentiras no".

Those lines came after Pinto spoke about him in an interview with Teletica Deportes Radio. Pinto said he was hurt that Campbell allegedly said he wanted to join Saprissa and that Saprissa had always been his team. The criticism was aimed squarely at a former Alajuelense player whose next destination is still not public.

Pinto ties it to Alajuelense

Pinto widened the complaint beyond Campbell. He said situations like Campbell’s and Michael Barrantes’s reflect mistakes in the sports management of the current Alajuelense board, and added: "Eso es estar manejando mal la parte deportiva por la Junta Directiva. Lo que tienen que hacer es no traer jugadores de la acera del frente".

He also argued the club should not sign players historically identified with Deportivo Saprissa. That view fits the political backdrop around Liga Deportiva Alajuelense, where Pinto is a former president and a board candidate trying to push his case back into the club’s internal debate.

Campbell’s exit after Clausura 2026 left his status open, and the public exchange only sharpens that uncertainty. He still has not publicly confirmed where he will play in Apertura 2026, so his name remains part of a larger argument over identity, recruitment, and who gets to define the club’s direction.