The Canarian central defender, who recently started against Eldense—a team where he played and trained before his transfer to Almería—has undergone a significant transformation. This match held special meaning for the player, who in his previous stint sported long hair and enjoyed a consolidated status in elite football. Now, with a new look and wearing the Cartagena jersey, he approaches his career from a different perspective, but with the same determination to continue contributing and not give up.
There was a time in his career when his market value approached four million euros, especially when Almería showed great interest in signing him. Currently, his value has significantly decreased, and his trajectory is measured more by his resilience than by economic figures. He arrived at Cartagena as a free agent in the winter transfer window, after a period with limited opportunities and absences from squad lists. At the Murcian club, he has begun a phase of reinvention, including a change of image and role, sending a clear message that, at 37 years old, he still has much to offer.
“"At 37, he hasn't said his last word."
The reunion with Eldense at the Pepico Amat stadium in Elda was a moment full of symbolism for the player. He played and trained there before Almería signed him to aid their promotion to La Liga Primera División. Although he returned to the elite spotlight, high competition in his position limited his prominence, and his appearances did not meet expectations. He signed at 36 years old, rejecting other offers, but failed to establish himself in the team.
His arrival at Cartagonova, without a transfer fee, aimed to bring experience to an ambitious project. The club, under the leadership of the Arribas family, seeks to regain its former glory, and the inclusion of experienced players like him is considered key. Despite arriving for free, he had to fight for a starting spot, with intermittent call-ups. It was in Elda where he once again demonstrated his worth, symbolizing his change of image and his resistance to retirement, without living off the memory of his time at Almería.
