Coach reveals that young player who passed away this week ‘dreamed of going to Fulham’

Fulham are today suddenly mentioned in stories about Atletico Tucuman midfielder Andrés Balanta, who passed away this week.

The Colombian player collapsed during a training session on Tuesday, and despite medics attending and him being transferred to hospital, he tragically died at just 22-years-of-age.

The local media is obviously very moved about the death of such a young footballer, and today, Infobae features a special story about messages Balanta had recently sent to people close to him, as well as statements from those who knew him.

They take quotes from Venezuelan manager Rafael Dudamel, who had been his coach at Deportivo Cali, revealing that the player had ‘dreamed’ of joining Fulham.

“I don’t know if I’m going to have happy dreams, because when I found out the news of the death of Andrés Balanta, a player I had at Deportivo Cali, who dreamed of going to Fulham, and now that this happens to him, it has been very unfortunate. My condolences to your family.”

Andrés Balanta grew up at Deportivo Cali, where he even made an appearance in the Copa Libertadores, and had been sent to Atletico Tucuman on loan this season. The player also had caps for Colombia’s U17, U20 and U23 squads, so certainly had the beginnings of a good career.

Since Fulham were never really linked to him, it’s interesting to see that he had such a specific wish of joining the Craven Cottage side, and it’d be nice to see the club addressing that desire somehow.