Isaac Padilla, a Barça youth player heading to Iraq

Isaac Padilla (Hospitalet de Llobregat, 1996) went through the quarries of Espanyol and FC Barcelona, ​​where he played the second edition of the Youth League with Marc Cucurella, Xavi Quintillà or Aitor Cantalapiedra. Later he wore the shirts of Sabadell, Reus or Castelldefels, where he played just before starring in one of the most striking movements in the current transfer market. After dedicating his entire career to Catalan football, Padilla will travel more than 4,000 kilometers to enlist in the ranks of the Al Diwaniyaof the Iraqi First Division. “Since I left Barça I have not had any luck. Now I have to take risks to grow. I will always be in time to return home”, values ​​the footballer still from Spain.

Isaac Padilla planned to play this season at UA Horta. Everything was closed, but then came the proposal that changed their plans. “We sent videos and apparently they liked it, because they didn't take long to send the offer. It's that easy. It was hard to say no“, reveals the Catalan, who is waiting for the visa before heading to Turkey to join the preseason of a team, Al Diwaniya, which has already signed 18 new players.” When I say that I am going to Iraq, people are surprised, but I have been informed – he spoke with Gonzalo Rodríguez, Spanish physical trainer of Al Shorta – and the situation in the country is stable. The only problem is, as everywhere, the coronavirus“.

“I had a hard time assimilating that I had an offer from Iraq. The conditions are good, but I had to think about it a lot because it will be my first time outside of Spain. I will play in the First Division and that is a great opportunity to continue growing as a footballer “, details Padilla, who has signed for a season that, he hopes, can serve as a springboard to make a name for himself in Asia:” I hope I can make the leap to a country in which the economic and sporting level is even better. “The Catalan will play for Al Diwaniya, a club that has remained in the elite since his last promotion to First Division in 2017.” They are far from the level of Al Quwa Al Jawiya, Al Zawra'a or Al Shorta, but they are signing foreigners to take a quality leap “, assesses Asian football expert Dani Deuder.

“The level of the Iraqi Premier League is quite good”

The economic, political and social crisis Iraq is going through is one of the reasons why your league is a complete stranger. Their clubs, however, occupy the second echelon of Asian football and proof of this is Al Quwa Al Jawiya's victory in three of the last four editions of the AFC Cup, the Europa League of Asia. “As far as Asia is concerned, the level of the Iraqi league is quite good. It is very competitive and the Iraqi footballer is physically strong and technically evolving,” he said. Angel Carrascosa, who went through Naft Maysan and currently plays for Foakaidhoo in Maldives. “I only have good memories of Iraq. And that I arrived shortly after the end of a war. When we moved, they checked buses and passports every 10 minutes and in the hotel where I lived there were armed soldiers 24 hours a day,” recalls the forward manchego.