MADRID, 21 Jun. (EUROPA PRESS) –
‘DAZN’ premieres this Wednesday the third episode of ‘OR7GEN’, its documentary series starring David Villa and who, on his tour of some of the best national football youth academies, makes a stop on this occasion in Paterna to discover the work of Valencia CF, another of his exclubes.
After examining the grassroots football of Atlético de Madrid or that of La Masía in the previous two chapters, the Asturian now presents the ‘che’ academy to discover the ‘Paterna Gene’ at the hands of some Valencian legends such as Santi Cañizares, Miguel Ángel Angulo , Pablo Aimar, David Albelda, Vicente Rodríguez, Ricardo Arias or Carlos
Soler.
“I wasn’t born a Valencian but, from the day I arrived here, it made me one forever. Being part of the history of this great club and this stadium is something very beautiful and one of the best things I’ve been able to do in football” confesses Villa, who was in the black and white team between 2005 and 2010.
One of the club’s legends, Ricardo Arias, talks to the former striker about the passion of the fans, which “either kills you or elevates you”, while one of his former teammates, Santi Cañizares, warns him that “in Valencia there is a niche for many boys and girls who like to play football and whose dream is to play for Valencia”. “In Valencia there has never been a lack of anything, there has always been a tremendous raw material,” remarks the one from Puertollano.
In this sense, the former goalkeeper highlights the figure of the current ‘che’ captain. “I always want a Gayà in my team. A guy who comes out of the quarry, who lives the Valencia shield, who has a maximum involvement and who does not listen to any offer and wants to stay here and be a Valencia legend having played 500 or 600 games. I always want players like Gayà”, he assures.
For his part, Miguel Ángel Angulo recalls that children used to play “in the street with friends” and that now they do so “in an academy with professional coaches who are dedicated to it.” “In all this puzzle there is a key piece, the team coach. The first team coach is the first one who has to trust you,” he admits.
The Argentine Pablo Aimar, who left his mark on the club, underlines how “wonderful” football is “as a game” and that it has “beautiful values such as camaraderie or friendship.” “It is not only the photo
in the newspaper or the two million followers. He has other very good things and these issues, from adulthood and common sense, we transmit them, and they understand it and they will be passed on to other generations, “he says.
After this passage through Paterna, David Villa will go to his native Asturias in the fourth and final chapter of ‘OR7GEN’, which will be broadcast on Wednesday June 28, to discover the cradle of his talent and that of many other LaLiga stars.