“I’m getting tough to try to find a place at Atlético”

Sergio Camello (Madrid, February 10, 2001) he is squeezing every minute of his loan at the Mirandés. A striker who, despite his youth, does not weigh responsibility, something that demonstrated in his debut in the First Division (18-5-2019) with the goal that tied Atlético against Levante, on his entry into the Santiago Bernabéu to debut in a derby in 2020 or with his way of assuming the scoring commitment of the rojillo team as soon as he landed.

Camello upped the ante in his debut with Mirandés with a double and he has seven goals in the 16 league games he has participated, the last one for defeat Real Sociedad B Last monday. He is the eighth top scorer in the SmartBank League despite not shooting penalties and his celebrations simulating an electric guitar are already a trend in the city. The Madrilenian attends AS excited about the start of the season, his debut with the U21 National Team, the challenge of the Copa del Rey and a future return to the club of his loves, an Atlético that follows very closely. To him and Rodrigo Riquelme, all a support. Ambition is not lacking and he sets the bar high: get salvation and reach 20 points.

Last Monday they returned to the path of victory against Real Sociedad B.

We needed to win, and more against an opponent from below. What better way than to do it in the last game of the year 2021 in Anduva and being able to score the first goal to open the can.

The Mirandés was competing well, but the triumph was slipping away.

Yes, the team was aware that football was not being entirely fair to us. We had been playing very good games and we weren’t capable of adding three at a time. The team needed such a result. It was not such a good game on our part, but in the end football is about winning games and scoring points and more against a direct rival.

In four of the five wins the team has scored or assisted Camello.

I am aware of it. Whenever I score a goal, the game usually ends the way we all want it to. I used to think that, luckily or unfortunately, all my goals have been in Anduva. What better way than in front of our fans.

What is the balance of your first months at Mirandés?

Is positive. We are going to leave at Christmas fulfilling the objective, fighting for salvation, but surely out of relegation (they surpass the nineteenth classified by four points), participating in practically all the games and very happy, because I see that the team is growing and in the second round we will go up.

Add seven goals and 15 starts. It is an ideal loan for you, Atlético and Mirandés.

All parties are very happy. I know Atlético follows me very closely, it is a transfer that we studied a lot, but we knew that Mirandés was the ideal place to come, in which they trust the young people as they are showing. The three parties are very happy and happy to have chosen so well.

The stands are filling up with rockers.

Rock is becoming fashionable. My teammates also like it, the fans accompany them playing the guitar, I see it in the stands and for me it is an honor. Hopefully we can continue scoring goals and celebrate them in the same way.

What does it mean to have Rodrigo Riquelme as a partner?

Much. Not only is he my partner, outside of football he is a good friend of mine. I am lucky to have played with him, we understand each other quite well and I think that both he and I are showing that whenever we connect, the play ends in a goal or in the Uy from the stands. Riquelme is playing a little less, but as long as he has minutes he shows that he deserves to play.

He played in Second B and sporadically in First, what difference is there with Second Division?

I have never thought about it. Second B is where you really get the hang of it, it is people who have played First, Second and they are complicated fields. The First level is top, time to think is minimal. The Second did not follow her as much and I am seeing that the level is very similar to First. I think he fights for, after the five major leagues, to be the sixth best.

Atlético is having a hard time this start of the season.

I am following it. Here living alone as long as I can, I don’t miss a game. It was a shame to fall into the derby, but it is another team that I believe that when it takes off no one will stop it, because it has a level of squad that has rarely been seen at Atlético. In attack, it is very difficult to find a gap between players of the level of Suárez, Griezmann, João Félix, who are world top.

Do you think about the return to Atlético?

Obviously. That is why I am here tanning myself, maturing as a footballer, as a person, acquiring things that can be good for Atlético and my idea is to go back and try to make a place for myself at Atlético de Madrid.

You played a derby at the Santiago Bernabéu and scored in your First Division debut against Levante.

They are very nice memories. I am still young, but that happened to me when I was just 18 years old and for that you have to be prepared. You do not know when you are going to have the opportunity and suddenly you see yourself in Ciudad de Valencia scoring a goal on your debut, just reached the age of majority. And then you see yourself at the Santiago Bernabéu a few months later. I’m here to work and play 200 more derbies.

Last year Atleti B faltered at the worst moment, with the restructuring of the competition.

It was a tough year for those of us who stayed. I had two promotion playoffs in a row, it was an important year, after the coronavirus a new division was added and descending meant going down two categories at once. Now I am also following Atleti B and I see that no one stops them, they are leaders and I am very happy, because they and the generations that come behind deserve it. Hopefully they can live those playoff options.

Giuliano has remained as a scorer.

Giuliano is scoring goals, he is a friend of mine, he has already scored ten goals and a few last days that he does not stop scoring. I follow him closely. I am very happy for him, he is a boy who works hard and he deserves it too.

In the last break he was summoned by the U21 National Team. What does it suppose?

They are major words. When they told me that I was summoned, I couldn’t believe it, I was shocked. I remember more as a child being at home and following the U21 of Morata, Jesé … and I was amazed seeing them. When I realized that I could participate in the U21 it left me in shock.

And you’ve already participated in both games, they trust you.

I know Luis de la Fuente from the lower categories, when he came with us as assistant coach in the U-16 and U-19 and I know that he knew me well and that the moment I worked and things turned out I was going to take into account. And he has shown it this way, I have played both games and hopefully there will be many more.

There he has met with Manu Sánchez. Your generation is proving its worth.

From time to time you look back, look at photos and remember, for example, the promotion playoff for Segunda B here in Anduva and all of us from that Atleti B are playing in Second or First. Manu in Osasuna, Montero in Besiktas playing Champions, Poveda in Getafe, Pinchi and Clemente in Las Palmas, also Borja Garcés in Leganés, Mollejo in Tenerife, Germán Valera in Real Sociedad B… For me it is a pride. Having a good year in Second B opens the doors to elite football.

The Cup is back and Mirandés always grows in competition. It is a challenge?

It is another trophy and here we all want to win. We know that the Cup is very important and more so with Mirandés. That team with Pablo Infante that reached the semifinals, most recently in 2020 again and for us it is a challenge. The fans like it and we hope to get to Lugo to win and go through phases.

Camello’s personal test

The goal, is it made or is it born ?: I think you are born with it. It is a gift that you are born with and I have had it. I really appreciate it.

A reference: Fernando Torres.

A dream: Succeed with Atlético.

A Champions League or a World Cup ?: A World Cup with Spain would be the best, but a Champions League with Atleti, which would be the first, is what I would stay with. I choose a Champions League with Atlético de Madrid.

A hobby: The music.

A place in Madrid: Malasaña.

In Miranda de Ebro: Anduva.

Vacation: The Nautical of San Vicente.

A movie: Big Fish.

A book: The boy in the striped pajamas.

A goal challenge until the end of the season: A striker has to be selfish, from the beginning I scored 20 goals.