To continue in Ecuador ‘in any way’, the wish of Gabriel Marques when leaving Barcelona

Gabriel Marques and his family are “very happy, very satisfied” in Ecuador. Therefore, the intention of the Brazilian-Ecuadorian midfielder, with whom Barcelona Sporting Club will not have this 2022 after six and a half years of ties, is to stay in the country “in any way”, that is, even considering his 33-year-old offers of minor teams of the Professional Football League (LigaPro).

“I want to play, to show that I am whole, well,” said the former Canarian footballer to the press on Tuesday night upon his arrival in Guayaquil.

Last December, the Barcelona board said it would not extend the Marques contract, who joined the bullfighting club in June 2015 (debuted in July) and won two national titles in the yellow store (2016 and 2020), in addition to being part of the team when it reached the semifinals of the Copa Libertadores in 2017 and 2021, this last edition without minutes of action.

The native of Pedro Leopoldo (Minas Gerais, Brazil) suffered anterior cruciate ligament and meniscus injuries in December 2020, for which he was indisposed for a long time. He returned to training in May 2021, and to the competition eight months after being discharged, on August 29, when he entered the 90th minute against Independiente del Valle. From then on, he only appeared in two more games, against October 9 (26 minutes) and Olmedo (4).

Regarding the previous campaign, at the individual level, Marques referred on Tuesday: “A bit hard year for not having played. It accumulated a lot of time. I had 20 minutes or half an hour on the field of play ”.

Future in Guayaquil City

Guayaquil City is one of the options Marques has to continue his career and give way to his desire to stay in Ecuador; however, the player preferred not to anticipate his statements.

Thus, he managed to say: “There are some (interested) clubs, but still nothing concrete. My wish is to stay in Ecuador, in any way. We are very happy, very satisfied in this country ”.

Alfaro: Today, due to the Marques issue, Barcelona cannot hire

The midfielder confessed that his former teammate in Barcelona Matías Oyola, who will play for City in 2022, sought him out to join the squad led by Pool Gavilánez: “I spoke with him. He is very happy to be able to continue playing, it is what he wanted. He invited me with him, but we have to see if it is possible. If yes, welcome to it ”.

Already in December, DT Gavilánez spoke about Marques: “I would like him to be part of my squad, but I have not spoken anything with him or with the representative. We will see the next few days if he calls me or I call him ”.

Finally, when asked about his farewell to Barcelona, ​​the player was sincere: “It was all. They were cute six and a half years. Barcelona gave me everything I have. I owe you a lot and I am very grateful”.

Only in the first division tournament in Ecuador (series A), Marques played 172 games, according to records from the Ecuadorian Soccer Federation. He also appeared in other national and international competitions. (D)