Óscar Valentín: “It is a gift of life to play in the First Division with Rayo”

Oscar Valentine (Ajofrín, Toledo, 1994) has been uncovered as one of the big reveals from the fringe. It gives balance to the spinal cord and its growth is being exponential. Live with enthusiasm every game and does not wrinkle nor with the visit of Atleti. The midfielder cut his teeth on the dirt fields of Castilla-La Mancha, although it was in the Third Division where he learned the most, a category in which football is more of an incentive with which to cope with routine than an option for a real future. Few, very few, reach First Division. Óscar knows this and values ​​it. He who gave his first kicks to the ball in the AD Diana, in Sonseca, the town next door. From then on, fate brought him and took him, but he never took his feet off the ground. His studies, his family, his partner… those are his priorities. In addition, ‘the professor’, as he is nicknamed, claims his right to observe and give his opinion. To what footballers also have a voice. And he uses his to collaborate, for example, with ‘Cruz Roja’. He is caring and thoughtful. He is a football and life worker, that is why he has found his place in Vallecas...

“Has the Lightning returned or did it never go away?”

“He has never left. The start of the season was impressive and we are still the same. We knew that this bad streak would come, but we have always shown our faces. Before we had the confusion and wear and tear of the Cup and it made the team go down a bit. Now we are more focused on the League.

“Was it the fatigue or the flattery?”

“I don’t think flattery was counterproductive. We all like to be talked about well, it stimulates us. It was the accumulation of parties. He didn’t let us rest enough or prepare for the next match like now.

—Atletico shows up, can you beat them?

-Definitely. We are Rayo, for us nothing is impossible… Atleti is a great team and there are few rivals capable of harming them, but in our field we have already shown that we are not shrinking against the greats.

—He wore the red and white one!

—Yes, I was in the lower categories, but it didn’t become Atleti’s quarry. It was Atlético Casarrubuelos. I did do two preseasons with the Juvenil División de Honor and with Atlético C, but they didn’t count on me in either of them.

—It was the ‘Rayos’ that marked his career…

—Majadahonda is a special club, it was a before and after in my life. There I made the leap to professional football because before I combined it with my career. Rayo Vallecano allowed me to live a promotion to First Division and debut in the elite. Both have marked me.

—When do you realize that you are a professional footballer?

—I come from below, from the mud, and you value more what it costs to get there. I have played in Castilla-La Mancha and there were many dirt courses. There you tanned. You went home with your knees busted. What made me grow the most were my five seasons in the Third Division. I had colleagues who came to play, after having been working for eight hours. Their priority was their work, which was what really fed them. Soccer was his hobby. When you can dedicate yourself to that, you are privileged. In the end, I have fewer years of professional football than modest.

—Your plan A for a long time was to study Business Administration and Management.

“I have always been a boy with a very furnished head. I came to Madrid to study at Rey Juan Carlos. Football was in the background, although it also gave one hundred percent. When I finished university I moved up with Majadahonda. I squared it perfect (laughs).

—Why does Comesaña call him ‘the professor’?

“We have a lot of jokes in the locker room. I like to get into debates on any topic that is discussed. I always give my opinion. They call me that because I’m the one who knows everything (laughs).

-It is also pronounced in networks…

—Football players have us a little censored, so to speak. Many times we do not say what we think, nor do we get wet about controversial issues. We have the right to express what we think. We are one more citizen, with his opinion.

—How did you experience that jump to First Division?

—With desire and enthusiasm. It is a gift of life to be here. I was not afraid, nor pressure. I enjoy every match. It is the work of many years…

—You went through Ray B and left, did you imagine coming back?

—I had several injuries and they did not allow me to have continuity. I left crushed because here I felt represented. I liked Vallecas. I kept watching the Rayo games and when the opportunity arose to return, I didn’t hesitate. I wanted to get that thorn out. Fate has wanted to put me here again. Couldn’t be more special…

—Its growth is seen in each game and that its demarcation is not very lucid.

—Football evolves and the game is analyzed more, soccer players like me end up valuing themselves more and more. The coach’s confidence does me a lot. I get the best of me.

-Tell me about Iraola…

“He has a great future ahead of him.” With what little he has, he is showing a great level in Rayo and in the end, although he hurts us, he falls short. There are players who have grown a lot with him and we all want him to stay to continue growing. He sets up matches very well, he knows what the rival’s weaknesses may be. It is one of his strengths.

—Do you see yourself in the future with the bracelet?

“I have three more seasons left here. It would be an honor…

—He supported Trejo when he published a message listing the problems they were experiencing… He got involved.

“We’re not robots that just go out and play.” It’s lucky to have Trejo who gets wet, he gives everything for the team and the fans. I will always support people like that, capable of fighting for everyone.

—And he has also been involved with the ‘Red Cross’.

—I was getting to know how they work, through the mother of a friend, and I became a member. I encourage people to unite and build, together, a better world.

—You asked on Twitter, are there more good or bad people in the world? What do you think?

—You see more good things than bad in the day to day, but misfortunes happen. It is inexplicable that there is now a war. There are more good people, although the bad ones are more noticeable.