Marlos Moreno is settling into his new, albeit temporary, life at Deportivo La Coruna. The Colombian signed for Manchester City over the summer, and was then sent out on loan to Spain.
Moreno is from Medellin in Colombia, a city close to the equator. The climate is steadily nice throughout the year, leading people to label Medellin ‘the city of eternal spring’.
Manchester City sending Moreno to La Coruna in Galicia is probably good for off the pitch as well as on it. On the northern Spanish coast, it can be the footballer’s halfway house, climate-wise, before he arrives in Manchester.
The Spanish newspaper asked Moreno what it felt like to hear Manchester City wanted to sign him, and Moreno explained: “The truth is I did not believe it. I looked at the sky and thanked God for the opportunity he was giving me.”
Reactions don’t come much more enthusiastic than that, and despite the footballer’s success, he’s been conscious of keeping his feet on the ground.
Moreno has already won the Colombian league and the much cherished Copa Libertadores with Atletico Nacional, and his natural talent has made him a target throughout his career.
“I try to keep my feet on the ground. You can go mad with calls from big clubs, agents who approach you and offer homes or money… but you have to keep working and know you have not done anything yet.
Moreno explained his sister and mother help him stay grounded and humble, and added: “My childhood was difficult, in a neighbourhood where there were few resources.
“That influences my personality. It is the root of my growth process. I can talk to friends there. They support me a lot. ”
Moreno has also enjoyed the support of Eladio Tamayo, who discovered him playing football at the age of ten. Despite approaches from bigger agents, dangling shiny carrots, Moreno stuck with Tamayo, a man he told Marca is like father to him.
The feeling is mutual, when Moreno signed for Manchester City, Tamayo spoke to Colombia’s Futbol Red and explained: “The main architect of all this is Marlos, with his discipline and commitment. I just added a tiny bit.
“I love him like a son, that’s it for me. We build this dream together and we did it with the help of his mother, his brothers and his girlfriend.”
