Carvajal: “The objective is to reach the first team in Levante”

“The new Jefferson Lerma”, that's how they titled the arrival of Gustavo Carvajal to Levante, however, the Colombian midfielder wants to write his own history in Spanish football and even hope to surpass what the Bournemouth player, whom he admires, has achieved. The 20-year-old Cuacano is fulfilling his dream and hopes to be able to raise the name of the country.

Carvajal signed for Atlético Levante, the second team of the Valencian club from América de Cali that loaned him for one season, however, the player does not feel far from integrating the main squad with which he has already had the opportunity to train. The midfielder also hopes that the club can make use of the purchase option to continue playing in European football.

The midfielder has integrated the processes of the Colombia Sub 17 and Sub 20 Selection, but confessed that the national team continues to monitor him. After his arrival in Spanish football, Arturo Reyes, technical assistant of Carlos Queiroz, spoke with him and he assured him that while adding matches he can be close to reaching the Major.

Gustavo Carvajal spoke with AS Colombia about his first days in Spain, the goals he has and the dreams that he is already fulfilling in Levante. In addition, he confessed that he continues to monitor América de Cali.

First days in Spain: “It is a great opportunity. For the moment everything is going very well, I have felt at home. I have surrounded myself with people from the team that I admire a lot and they have had great hospitality with me. There is a lot of rhythm here, football is much faster “I have been working on that and in the games I have seen that I have been improving. The coach likes intensity very much and thank God I have understood it and I have evolved a little in that way.”

Levante first team: “I see myself very close to being in the first team. I have trained with them and I have played against them. I am just one step away. You have to do things as I am doing them, keep learning, evolving and playing games, that's how it will get there. the opportunity”.

The new Jefferson Lerma ?: “I admire Jefferson Lerma a lot, he set the bar very high and they love him here a lot, but I have come to put the stick of Gustavo Carvajal. I come to show what I am. I know that a compatriot passed through here and left a great mark, but I come to leave mine “.

Goals: “My short-term goal is to get a place in the first team and play LaLiga. Later with the team you have to fight for qualifications to Europe. Levante is a mid-table team, but you can fight for something big and that is the objective”.

Staying in Spain: “It is an opportunity to be here in Spain, football here is something else. Being here is a dream I had since I was a child, now I'm here and now the only thing left is for the team to buy me. I'm on the right track and if I continue like this the team could buy me. “

Work in Levante: “They ask me to continue working as I have been doing since the first week. I have already evolved a lot, they ask me to maintain the same desire. The team has five values: humility, respect, joy, solidarity and responsibility. Starting from those values ​​we work to continue improving “.

Relationship with Colombians in Spain: “With the compatriots here everything has been very good, one feels at home because they write to you and are available for whatever you need. I have been able to see very little with them due to the COVID-19 situation, but one is He feels very good thanks to the good reception of the Colombians. “

Colombia and America selection

Monitoring of the Colombia National Team: “I have spoken with Professor Arturo Reyes lately. He tells me that I have to play and show what I am for. He knows me very well and knows my qualities. He tells me that I can start here in Levante and that this way the call can come alone “.

Dream of playing with Colombia: “I feel very happy but that is a huge joy. I hope to give my family that joy to go to a World Cup, play the Qualifiers or even play a friendly. It would be a great pride for my family. It is a dream, but not it I see far away. It's just a matter of working and that's how things will turn out. “

America from Cali: “I keep a close eye on América de Cali. Many times I can't watch the games because they are at dawn, but the next day I try to see the summary. They have been tough days and football in Colombia is very competitive. The team has to go a game. To game, the idea is to continue like this and to be able to classify the eight “.