Q. You return to Elche to establish a bridge between Vélez Sarsfield and Europe. What else brings you around town?
R. I have always had contact with the people of the Club. I am very happy to return to Elche. I've come back to stay.
It has been almost two decades since he starred in a record transfer to Osasuna. And here is the team, the stadium and Nino …
Nino is a phenomenon. I was at Elche when he debuted and at that time, more than 20 years ago, he was already seeing interesting things and he gave us important goals. Now he is a recognized footballer and he continues to go through an excellent state of form. He has made the career that was expected of him. He is a great striker and a very good person. A year ago we were together, when I came on vacation, and I recently congratulated him, as well as Chistian (Bragarnik) and Jorge (Raffo), when he achieved promotion to the First Division. With them, Elche is in good hands.
Do you feel the rise of the team as your own?
All of us who have ever participated in Elche are very happy. I feel happy because I was in two stages in the team and I felt the affection of everyone. Here I keep great friends.
Now he also has Christian Bragarnik, owner of Elche. Is it just a coincidence that you have chosen this moment to move so close to the Martínez Valero?
With Christian Bragarnik he has a friendship relationship for many years. He is a person very close to Vélez Sarsfield, where I worked for ten years as manager of the sports area. He is a fan and partner of the entity. I continue to belong to that club to do things with European football, such as agreements with clubs, the arrival of youth or tours. It is a nice project to carry out. Hopefully one day I can collaborate with Elche, but now it is well managed. Pacheta and Nico did well; it is to be happy with your work.
What will Bragarnik bring to Elche?
Yes. Elche is run by people who know and live football. Christian (Bragarnik) is a friend to me. And a very important businessman from Argentina, one of the best. He has a lot of knowledge of the ball and has been successful everywhere he has been. He is a low profile (discreet) and does not usually speak to the press; a tireless soccer player, as is his entire team. Elche is very lucky to have a 100% dedicated person. I consider him a great friend and a very nice person.
He says that all his assets have been gambled on this project …
That I don't know. I can say that he is a successful, low-key, and hard-working businessman. Get to know the world of football and players. It values the technical bodies. The previous one, with Pacheta, did very well. Now, with Almirón, he has hired one of the best in South America, a very experienced coach. And for grassroots football, Coqui Raffo, recognized in Argentina, has arrived. As a friend and as a fan I wish him the best; I'm sure he will be successful because in a short time he already has the team in First. Right now he works to keep the team in the elite.
In Vélez he has also had an old acquaintance from Elche, such as Ariel 'El Chino' Zárate. How are you?
We have him as a coach in the inferiors. I was with him at Elche and I know that the fans love him very much. Now he is making up as a technician. In Argentina, the work in the quarry is very recognized and hopefully, little by little, I will go up to become coach of the first team.
Finally, for Elche and Celta, Lucas Robertone sounds. Do you see him with a place in Spain?
Of Robertone I can say that he is a complete footballer, a mixed midfielder who has a long history. He formed a great couple with Domínguez, transferred to the Italian league. He seems like a very good player to me.