International Players

He suffered depression, he wanted to retire, and being 23, he’s one of the most expensive players in America

By Fredi Roman

Being a soccer player is not only about signing contracts fancy life. It can also bring lots of troubles in life.

Being a soccer player is not only about signing contracts fancy life. It can also bring lots of troubles in life.

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Soccer players are not robots, they are human beings. Desite sometimes people think they only earn fortunes, drive expensive cars and enjoy nightlife, they can also face serious trouble outside of the field, which ultimately lead to bad performances, and lots of pressure. It can give lots of ups and downs to anybody.

Argentina has one of the strongest leagues in America, particularly if we see that their two giants Boca Juniors and River Plate have always been (at least one of them) at the Copa Libertadores semifinal. Not to mention the historic controversial clash between both at the 2018 final, which ended up being held at the Santiago Bernabeu Stadium in Madrid.

Argentinian league has recently lost a star, a Uruguayan striker named Santiago García, who shared the U20 World Cup in 2009 alongside stars like Nicolás Lodeiro, Sebastian Coates, Gastón Ramírez, Abel Hernández and Jonathan Urretaviscaya. The ‘Morro’, as he was nicknamed, suffered a severe depression while playing for Mendoza province’s Godoy Cruz, and committed suicide last February 4.

Speaking to Uruguay’s radio station Sport890, García’s countryman Nicolás De la Cruz, born in 1997, expressed he has come out from similar struggles. He revealed he had suffered depression given his level was not so good in the field. He was raised in his childhood club Liverpool from Montevideo and was acquired by River Plate for 2017-2018 season. His little playing time and his struggling to adapt played a negative role that ultimately led him to almost drop his career.

 A new beginning

De la Cruz confessed he suffered a lot the heavy critics he received being just 20 years old then. Now, being 23, he found lots of support in his wife and daughter. He also was backed by River’s coach, Argentina’s former international Marcelo Gallardo, who transformed him into one of the best wing midfielders in the continent. As per Transfermarkt, his price is now $22 million, having become the second most expensive player in Argentina behind wonderkid Thiago Almada, and one of the most expensive ones in South America behind Palmeiras’ Gabriel Veron and Flamengo’s Gabriel Barbosa.

 


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