Nico Melamed, Leader at Almería: "I Came to Be Important and I Want to Achieve Promotion"
The Catalan footballer, crucial in the recent victory against Leganés, expresses his ambition to lead the team to La Liga.
By Antonio Vega Carmona
••3 min read
IA
Generic image of a soccer ball on the grass, with a blurred goal in the background.
Catalan player Nico Melamed, following his decisive goal against Leganés at the Estadio de los Juegos Mediterráneos, has expressed his firm intention to be the leader of Almería and achieve promotion to Primera División in the final eight matchdays of the season.
Melamed's talent was evident in the final play of Sunday's match, where his goal secured a crucial victory that could be worth more than three points. The '10' of Almería has returned with strength, ready to assume a leading role in the final stretch of the National Second Division League Championship.
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"There are days that can serve as a turning point, and the truth is I am very happy for myself and all my teammates with this opportunity to become leaders next Sunday if we win in Santander against Racing."
The winning goal against Leganés held special significance for the player. "Taking off my shirt in the celebration felt like shedding a weight, I want that continuity to be a leader at Almería, to be important in the team. I experienced an emotional moment, of liberation," Melamed explained.
Furthermore, the footballer dedicated the goal to his partner, acknowledging her unconditional support during difficult times. "The first person I thought of during the goal celebration was my partner. Ultimately, a footballer always wants to play as much as possible, I haven't been going through a good time, and she is one of the people who helped me the most when I wasn't playing," he revealed.
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"It has surely been the most important goal to date, because of what was happening and what it means for the team."
Nico Melamed reiterated his commitment to the club, stating that he came to Almería with the clear intention of being a benchmark. "I came to be a leader, I left Primera División with the team that had given me everything to be a leader of Almería. I fully trust my abilities, that is very clear to me. Whether Sergio Arribas is here or not, I can certainly pull my weight," he confidently asserted.
The player also highlighted the competitiveness of the Second Division, describing it as the most evenly matched league he has played in. "This league is the most equal I've played in; I was at the physio and seeing that Racing de Santander was losing 5-2 in Andorra, I knew we had it in our hands. These last eight matchdays are fundamental, where we are playing for direct promotion to Primera División, which is what we all want," Melamed concluded.