Cristian Alvarez Leaving?

Before Cristian Alvarez has even had a chance to cement his place in the first team at RCD Espanyol, he had a clear shot at the number 1 keeper slot as Idriss Kameni was on the outs in the Summer to Tottenham or Manchester United, the backup keeper has come out in a recent interview stating that he’d like love to play for a big club like Boca Juniors back home in Argentina. Boca coach Calos Ischia has him in mind from their time together at Rosario Central, and Boca have had troubles with their keepers, so it doesn’t sound like that much of a stretch for a homesick Argentinian kid to play for the “50% +1″ team, the club with more fanatical support than any other in Argentina in Boca Juniors.

Now, of course he’s come out and denied the reports, minimized the damage already caused by his very typical modern footballer’s interview technique: increase interest abroad, put pressure on the squad for either increased playing time, respect or a better contract, and has said all the right things in the press. Espanyol bet on him in case Kameni left and he wants to repay their confidence in his abilities. “I have a debt to Espanyol, to the directors and the supporters, so I want to say that I have not asked for a transfer to Boca Juniors. It has not crossed my mind to abandon Espanyol, because I am happy here and I respect the club and the fans.”

I don’t doubt his sincerity, but first of all, it’s getting really tiresome to hear young footballers today give up so quickly before they’ve even begun their careers abroad. Secondly, I realize Espanyol isn’t a big tier club in Spain, but come on.

Last year Pablo Zabaleta wants to leave Espanyol for a bigger club but only attracts interest from Palermo in Italy. Then his rep says that he’d consider a move but not to a club that’s on the same level as Espanyol? A club with the history of RCD Espanyol? We’re one of the originators in La Liga and we’re being compared to Palermo? No disrespect to Palermo, but they were outside the top flight in Italy for 32 years before they returned to Serie A in 2005. We’ve been out of the top flight for only three out of the 80 years that the Spanish League has been in existence. They have two Coppa Italias to their name. We have 4 equivalent trophies and we were runner’s up in the UEFA Cup not 2 years ago. Now his countryman Alvarez want to bow out of the big time European competitions and return home to Boca?

Now, I like Boca. I covered them a few years ago when I was in Phoenix for a set of friendlies. They have a great tradition especially in International competitions. They’re one of the great clubs in World Football, but it’s about time people started realizing what a great club RCD Espanyol really is and how fortunate they are to be playing every week in the blanc-i-blau of the periquito shirt. Sorry, off my soap-box. You may return to your regualarly scheduled programming.

Category: Espanyol Team News

Tags: Espanyol Team News

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