Antonio Valencia: I was down, now I have life. I like the affection of the people, they ask me for autographs, photos and I love that; it’s a blessing

Antonio Valencia acknowledged that “he was down.” Does that state of mind have to do with the harsh criticism he received in Ecuador during his last stage as an active player? The Amazonian did not perform as expected when he was repatriated by Liga de Quito in June 2019. In August 2019 he declared, after being expelled against Barcelona SC: “I feel like a foreigner in my own country.”

But if there were bad times before, the present of Valencia – who until today is the national player with the best career in Europe – is different. He is happy thanks to being immersed in a new football project that he heads. The former Manchester United captain confesses it with unconcealed joy: “Now I have life.” He says that this feeling is due to the task he performs at the Tumbaco AV25 institution, founded by him.

Valencia, a World Cup player with the Tricolor in Germany 2006 and in Brazil 2014, officially presented its football team last June, which bears the name of Tumbaco AV25 and which will begin its journey in the category amateur of Ecuadorian soccer, with the hope that in coming years it will compete in orbits of greater importance.

In a chat with radio Round, from Quito, Valencia said this Wednesday: “We continue to work with our team, the important thing is that our boys are happy. I left Lago Agrio looking for a better future and I know the needs of my boys. The idea is to give the boys a better life.”

Valencia spent ten seasons at Manchester United, with whom he won nine titles (including two in the Premier League and one in the Europa League, as well as being runner-up in the Champions League). Those that he captained for a long time, until he lost ownership. In his final semester with the Red Devils, between January and May 2019, he played just 16 minutes.

The Quito League repatriated him in June 2019 and he was with the albos for 371 days, played 32 games, scored a goal and was part of the squad that won the 2019 Ecuador Cup and the 2020 Super Cup. His last presence in the National Team was not good either. , when in the Copa América in Brazil 2019 Valencia played out of physical shape. Ecuador was last in group C and did not win any games.

‘The love of the people’

Alegre, the former midfielder, who emerged in the first division with the El Nacional shirt, declared: “I am happy in my club (Tumbaco AV25). I was down and now I have life. With my boys I am grateful. I want them to learn from my fourteen years in Europe. I love my boys very much, I always want them to leave everything in training, especially my defenses”.

Valencia, who is usually considered shy, mentioned in the interview with the capital station that he feels comfortable being in contact with people. “When I was 21 years old I had in mind to be a physical trainer, then I decided to study and prepare myself more. I like to have contact with people and in January (previous) I decided to start in football. I like the affection of the people, in Cayambe it was crazy. They ask me for autographs, photos and I love that. It is a blessing, ”said the former soccer player of the Spanish Villarreal and Recreativo de Huelva, the English Wigan and the Mexican Querétaro, where he retired in May 2021.

The Amazonian, who will turn 37 on August 4 (he was born in 1985), did not forget the best Ecuadorian exponent of mixed martial arts on the UFC circuit. “(Marlon) chito Vera is one of the sponsors of our project,” said Valencia. (D)