Jeremy Batioja plays in MLS Next Pro, which according to the specialized portal Transfermarkt is the third league in the United States. The 20-year-old Ecuadorian’s club is called Los Angeles FC and has players from several countries, a kind of branch of the United Nations. Batioja has colleagues from Mexico, El Salvador, Uruguay, Brazil, Guatemala, Canada, Jamaica and Italy; but also from more distant places like Israel, Mauritania, Mali, Indonesia. Spaniard Enrique Durán (42) is the coach of the Californian team.

Originally from Quinindé, Esmeraldas, where he was born on January 10, 2003, Batioja spoke with the program La Nueva Generación de la Tri 2, which airs this Tuesday on EL UNIVERSO’s social networks and on YouTube from 6:00 p.m.

He said that his parents were decisive in his sports training. “Thank God that I had a father and a mother who were always by my side during training. Dad always played it in the sense of saying ‘come on, you’ll be there in no time’. I, as a boy, never thought I would make it far, or how far I have come in my youth. But it was very difficult.”

Traffic in Los Angeles

Sarmiento told how he got into soccer after his initial years of coaching in Esmeraldas. “I went to the under-14 categories at Independiente, Universidad Católica, América and Aucas. I never imagined having a professional contract, I only played because I love football, I didn’t do it for money. Maybe I needed it, but I never thought, ‘I need money, I’ll do it for this’. I played because I love it. I like it now, but I think differently,” said the left midfielder or winger.

From Quinindé to Los Angeles, because he was so young, the change was drastic. “It was difficult for me to adapt the whole first month. Time difference, food, traffic. I live near (the internship place), two or three streets away, but when I want to go out to the supermarket, the crowd is too big. But it’s very nice, a second life I never imagined. I said to myself, ‘United States, when will I get there?’ However, I achieved this in my youth.”

With Selection

Batioja played two friendly matches with Tricolor U-20, where he became friends with Nilson Angulo and Stalin Valencia. He said this about a place in the senior team: “I think the dream of the national team will come true at any moment, sooner or later it will come true.” I have changed too much in my way of being. I don’t think I’m that mature, but I’ve matured a lot in every aspect: football-wise, personally, sentimentally and family-wise. Every year we learn more and mature more and more.”

Regarding his preference for supporting the team from Ecuador, Batioja commented when asked about his crush: “Barcelona, ​​​​​​​​​​​for my dad. He is loyal to Barcelona, ​​until death. So I think he instilled something in me. I carry something of Barcelona in my heart. And about the footballers he follows, he said: “I have always admired Lionel Messi, but in Ecuador I have several references, such as Junior Sornoza”, from Independiente del Valle. (D)