Nino looked at the clock without stopping. The minutes did not pass. Race goes, race comes through Martínez Valero's wing, in the warm-up zone. The Almerian is nervous, he can't help it. He is one step away from making his debut with Elche and writing the prologue to his legend. He is only 18 years old and his debut in professional football is near. Elche comfortably beat Real Murcia 3-0 with ten minutes remaining. At that moment, Bartolomé Plaza, franjiverde coach, looks at the band and calls Nino. The rest is history.
During warm-up, he crosses over and over with a striker that is in the twilight of his career and tries to take Real Murcia to Second. It is Paco López, the current granota coach. The one from Silla, hardened in the football of the Region, and Nino share minutes during the warm-up and the Valencian forward, crestfallen from defeat, watches carefully as Nino makes his debut. Paco López is a direct witness to Vera's debut. Jump to the field minutes before Nino. There are 13 years of difference between the two and Paco realizes that day that the generational change is near.
SOCCER 98/99 Nino receiving instructions on the band.
“I remember the result and that I came out in the second part, but I have somewhat blurred the memory of Nino's debut. But It's funny because we sure coincide in the warming bando “, says Paco López to AS days before meeting up with Nino at Levante-Elche on Saturday. The coach is already consolidated on the benches and his boots hung up a long time ago. But Paco will draw memories and it will be as if it had not happened time because in front of him he will have Nino, the boy he saw debut, of course, the 22-year-old from Almeria, surpassed the 40-year-old barrier.
98/99 SOCCER MURCIA 1998/99 TEAM WITH TÁRRAGA, AQUINO, RAÚL GARRIDO AND PACO LÓPEZ, AMONG OTHERS.
“Nino's trajectory is to be praised. He has proven to be a great professional. It is not easy to achieve what you have done and do it with a very high performance. Soccer deserves people like Nino. He is an example for everyone, especially for the youngest, “says Paco López, who is aware that Nino, long after that November 8, 98, can face another great challenge before his eyes, that of becoming the top scorer. oldest of Primera.