Spanish outlet Tinta Amarilla today features a good interview with 20-year-old winger Luís García, who has recently been signed by UD Las Palmas.
The player spent two years in the reserve squads of Sevilla, for whom he could never make an official debut. But it’s actually his past for another club which took most of the attention.
Luis García used to play for Brighton & Hove Albion, where he spent three seasons in the Seagulls’ youth ranks. His experience in England has been the subject of a major part of the interview, and he claims to have learned a lot during that period.
“I spent three years in England, they changed everything: preparation, food… I met the country by bus with my team,” Luis Garcia told Tinta Amarilla.
“I saw many interesting places. And now I have become different, wanting to succeed at UD Las Palmas. My dream is about to come true.
“Physically I left here like a stick. There they analysed me, made me muscular and gain weight. At first I fell very easy in the games. They forced me, in quotes, to do gym to improve my physique. In six months I already looked much better for that game.
“Going outside has changed me. Mentally I’m more mature. Football is playing with or without the ball, not neglecting physical strength… Those three years in Brighton made me harder on a psychological level. And also more positive. It was a stage of evolution in my training.
“In the league that I competed with Brighton there were very strong players, typical English. But there were also players with speed, technique and very offensive. There was a mix of everything, with English and people from abroad. My type of game is more to keep the ball. There that style was appreciated because many games were developed with a rhythm from box to box. I felt different in that style.”
Asked if it’s true that English football is still played in the mud, Luis García had to disagree with that.
“The English football in mud is a lie. All the fields were natural grass, perfect. As for facilities, they are from another world, next generation. The league was called the Premier League II, measuring all teams from the elite quarry. And also, we traveled all over England by bus. Up to fifteen hours away. I saw many interesting places.
“When I said I was a Canary (from Canary Islands) I was asked why I had come to the United Kingdom having the sun on our land. But you have to learn everything in life.”
Now despite having returned to his sunny home, he says he’s still a big admirer of the Premier League, and would fancy another shot in England.
“I liked that football. I would like to try it in the senior category sometime. My favourite league is the Premier, although I’m now thinking about winning with Las Palmas. That competition is a dream.”
But for that to ever happen, García needs to get to UD Las Palmas’ first team first.
