Carlos Heredia, a Spaniard playing in paradise

He was born in Barcelona, ​​but grew up between Spain and the United States. He went through the quarry of FC Barcelona, ​​but it was in England where he grew up as a footballer. Carlos Heredia (Barcelona, ​​1998) is only 22 years old, but his suitcase is full of moves and experiences. The most demanding, however, has only just begun. After a year and a half in Poland, the Barcelonan decided to go to play in the Dominican Republic, a country of which he has the nationality through his paternal grandfather. And there, in what he himself defines as “paradise”, he was received as a true hero. “They speak very well of me and I have a bit of pressure because now I have to prove my worth on the field, but I am delighted to put that weight on my back. My arrival was a 'boom' because it is not usual for footballers to arrive from Europe, but my case is special because I play for the national team and they know me, “Heredia reveals to AS before playing his first World Cup qualifying match.

After going through the quarry of Barça, CE Europe, MK Dons, winning a Premier League 2 with Wolves under-23 and harnessing himself in Poland, Carlos Heredia signed last February for Eastern dolphins, which also convinced the Colombian international Carlos Carbonero or the Venezuelan attacker 'Lobo' Guerra, champion of the Libertadores with Atlético Nacional, with the aim of assaulting the Dominican championship. “I hope to help the league grow and become more and more known abroad,” explains the Spaniard, international with the Dominican Republic since 2018: “They explained to me what their project was and they convinced me. They also it was a way to make my grandfather happy and that my family could feel proudHeredia was not born in the Dominican Republic, but he feels “identified” with a country that has always been part of his life: “I know I don't look like it, but I feel as Dominican as any other.”

Heredia already has eight caps with the absolute and will add two more this March, when they meet Dominica and Anguilla in the qualifying phase for the World Cup in Qatar. “We know that it is practically impossible, but the illusion is not going to take away anyone. We have a great group full of good young players capable of doing great things. The World Cup is far away, the truth is, first we will try to be in a gold Cup“, analyzes the Spaniard aware that they must do very well to hook the fans. In the Dominican Republic, soccer is not the king of sports: “Baseball and basketball are ahead. In fact, the Dominican Republic is the world champion in baseball.” Everything would be different if players like Raúl De Tomás (Espanyol), Mariano Díaz (Real Madrid) or Junior Firpo (FC Barcelona) opted for the Quisqueyanos: “Adding those players, the national team would take a tremendous leap. I know they have been called upon , but I understand that they still believe that they can play for Spain. It would be incredible if they came, but this is not the time to think about that. We are going to fight with those of us who are. “

United States, Spain, England, Poland and, now, Santo Domingo. Carlos Heredia is “happy with how things are going for me.” “When I started playing soccer, my highest ambition was to be a professional. It is what I have reached and now, obviously, I have other goals,” adds the Barcelona native, who dreams of succeeding in Delfines del Este and competing in the MLS or the Liga MX. “I don't want to use the Dominican Republic as a springboard. If I am here it is because my level is this. But I want to grow and play in the best leagues in the world and those of the United States and Mexico are.“Whatever happens, Heredia already considers himself lucky. He was born in Barcelona, ​​grew up between Chicago and New York and now enjoys the Dominican Republic:” This is paradise. Every day we are at 30 degrees, it is never cloudy, the climate is tropical, wherever you look, everything is full of vegetation and I have the beach 20 minutes away. I am in love with this country and enchanted by life“, sentence with a smile from ear to ear.