A total of 17 Yellows Academy players are finishing their time at the residence
Llegaron siendo niños y salen siendo futbolistas. Hasta 17 jugadores de la Cantera Grogueta acaban esta temporada su etapa en la Residencia de la Ciudad Deportiva. Han sido años de lucha constante lejos del hogar, de sus familias, amigos, pero ha merecido la pena. Entrenamientos, partidos, horas de estudio, momentos inolvidables junto a sus compañeros… Todo ha sido parte de un aprendizaje continuo que les ha llevado a ser lo que son. Mejores personas y unos prometedores futbolistas.
They arrived as boys and they are leaving as footballers. A total of 17 Yellows Academy players this season are finishing their time at the residence in the Villarreal CF Training Ground (Ciudad Deportiva). They have been there for years away from their home, their families and their friends, but it has been worth it. Training sessions, matches, study hours, forgettable moments alongside their team-mates… All of that has been part of a continuous learning process which has made into who they are now. Better people and promising footballers.
The list is long and full of experience. Álex Baena, Iker Álvarez, Marc Vega, Juan Carlos Quirós, Diego Collado, Miquel Femenías, Iván Morante, Marcos Olguín, Javi Cendón, Fernando Muriel, Richard Franco, Íñigo Sanclemente, Carlos Mangada, Miguel Opere, Jaime Durán, Alejandro Forés and Antonio Alemán will leave the residence this season.
One of those who has spent the most time in the residence is Baena, from Almería, the U19s A player and international with Spain’s youth sides. Without doubt, he is one of the jewels of the Yellows’ youth setup. “The truth is I never expected to leave home at 12 and to be there at 18 still living far away from my family. The hardest time was at first. It was a difficult time for me and my family,” he comments. He also underlines the good behaviour and friendship during those years of the likes of Morante, Miki and Cendón, among others.
Baena does not regret it al all. “I can’t hide that after seven years, I am looking forward to living in a flat, being more independent. But I also can’t deny everything positive that I’ve lived here and the friends that I’ve made.” Many of them are team-mates. “I’m good friends with Cendón, Morante, Diego and Miki. I hope we stay like that for many years,” he concluded.
Now it is time to make the leap. All of them will live in flats in Vila-real, alongside a team-mate. More freedom, although not completely abandoned, given that the help of tutors and psychologists from the residence will still be there.
In their final year at the residence, they have more freedom in decision making and they even have to organise their bedrooms themselves. But it isn’t the same. Their behaviour has been top notch and it needs to continue like that so they can carry on having a future in the world of football.
