Two seasons at La Rosaleda were enough to turn Salomón Rondón into a man from Malaga at heart. His family is based on the Costa del Sol and the striker spends in Malaga as long as the competition allows. Now, after having spent several months in the bubble organized by the Chinese government to make the conclusion of the Chinese Super League possible, he spends his vacations and rests in his retirement from Malaga. The top scorer in history for the Venezuelan national team and also for Málaga CF in the First Division (25 goals) She breaks her break to talk to AS. The talk, obviously, has a wide Malaguista chapter.
Rondón remembers his time at Martiricos with the utmost affection. And he openly recognizes that the closure to his blue and white stage was not the desired one. His departure left a pending account: “Yes, totally. I was left with the thorn of not being able to enjoy that historic year of the Champions League. It seems to me that I deserved it and playing the Champions League was something I dreamed of. I ended up playing Champions with Zenit. I went to Russia very happy but with a rather bittersweet taste. I think I deserved to play that Champions League because of how I lived it. I was saddened to leave the club as I did. They got me off the bus and the next day I had to go. That was how it happened, I accepted it, I learned to wear it and I was happy to have passed through here ”.
His was the goal that qualified Málaga for the maximum continental competition in the last match against Sporting de Gijón (1-0). “That goal was very important for what it meant, for what it was achieved. They competed in the Champions League and they got where they came. It was very significant. Soccer is like that, unfortunately no more was achieved and that rare elimination occurred. The players and the coaching staff who were there did it wonderfully, ”he recalls.
The vinotinto striker boasts, with 25 goals, the best scoring record in the First Division of Málaga CF. “For me it has been one of the best stages of my career, regardless of what I did in Russia with Zenit. Without underestimating Las Palmas, which gave me the opportunity to come to Europe, here the doors were opened for me to continue doing what I like, ”he says.
Very aware of the blue and white news
Rondón is very aware of what surrounds Málaga and the Blue and White present: “For me it is sad for what happened, for the golden years of the institution with their qualification for the Champions League and what they did in that competition. Then what has been happening with respect to the people who ran the club and now that they are trying to clean it up and take it where it deserves to be. Now they are doing very well, the signings are doing well despite all that is said and the whole situation. It is important that everyone who comes is committed to returning Málaga to Primera”.
Like every professional who has passed through Málaga since Al Thani acquired the club, he does not keep the best memory of the sheikh. “I suffered it firsthand and it was difficult. It seemed that everything was fine, everything was going well, we won, we were in the top positions until that bubble had to be broken somewhere. Nothing was right. There were so many problems with debts. One of the reasons why they get me off the bus when we were going out on a preseason tour to play friendly matches because they had sold me was because that sale did the club and the team a good to enter economically. The only thing I have left is gratitude towards Malaga, I prefer not to take those not so good moments, but stay with the good, the beauty of what I experienced, with La Rosaleda, a wonderful stadium for me. I'll stay with that ”, he acknowledges.
Josua Mejías, a new Venezuelan in La Rosaleda
For years, Málaga has had Venezuelans on its squad. In recent times, Rosales, Villanueva and Juanpi Añor have left the club, whom he has relieved in the vinotinto representation Josua Mejías: “I follow him because Mejías was one of the runners-up in the U-20 World Cup. He is very young, he is very talented, but today that is not enough. You have to have talent, head, personality … They are not tangible but they are there and you have to know how to handle them. The footballer has a very fine line between what is going well for you and what is going wrong for you. Today you are worth 3, you do not play 20 games and you are already worth 800. These are details that must be taken into account and you have to know how to handle them. Mejías is very talented and he has a lot to contribute to the national team. It comes from that litter that struggles to compete for a position in the national team”.
“I have always said that I would like to retire at Malaga”
As for his future, Rondón has already recognized on several occasions that his wish is to finish his football career at Málaga. And that purpose has not changed: “I have it clear. I have always said that I would like to retire here as a thank you for what Málaga has given me. My three children are practically from Malaga. This city has given me absolutely everything. I am 31 years old, I still have a two-year contract in China, my injuries have been respected, I have complied with my professionalism, I have done things well… This will depend a lot on how far my legs hold me ”.
But he does not rule out returning to Europe in the short term and before retiring he is attracted to the idea of trying other football experiences: “It intrigues me and I would like to play in South America. I only played in my country, I spent two years as a professional and then I left, I did not have the opportunity to play an international cup. At that time we won a Cup in Venezuela and that qualified us for the South American Cup, but I came to Las Palmas and I couldn't play it. The MLS draws my attention for what it means, the soccer growth project. I will continue to be a professional until my legs support me. I don't want to end up crawling across the field because I don't think it's the most loyal for football ”.
