In the 1996–97 the new owners signed José Mari Bakero who had just finished a long career with Spanish giant Barcelona along with key players from the Colombian national team Leonel Álvarez, Iván Valenciano, Alexis Mendoza mating important players and fan favorite goalkeeper Adolfo Ríos. With the hype of the club's new players many gave the club a chance of taking the league title but after a tournament field with injuries and with a divided locker-room the club managed to gain only 9 points and finished last leaving the club in relegation problems for the nest campaign.