Madrid, Spain /
Paracuellos de Jarama is a municipality northwest of Madrid. A community that every Mexican who loves soccer should mark on the map, because it is there the future hotbed of Aztec players trained in Spain:Mexico FC.
The project led by businessman Víctor Ferráez, Born in 2019 as a Comprehensive Sports Center focused on the mental, human and sporting development of promising young football players. “This project is not only about going to play soccer and try to see how quickly we can accommodate a Mexican soccer player in Europe. It is a project where we seek to develop people so they can play in Europe or return to play in Mexico or are a company director anywhere in the world” explains the president of the entity who wants to make it clear that México FC is much more than a springboard to European football.
“There are young people who are going to be studying at university, there are others who will be completing their certification in coaching or any other academic study and additionally they will have the mental development part, which is one of the most important parts of the project,” explains Víctor, who is passionate about teaching and human well-being.
The academy works with 620 young people, mainly Spanish. In addition to daily training, two hours of mental development plus hours of basic studies are taught. “There is a program with a psychologist, Mariana Mejía from Winning Mindset. They obviously want us to be footballers, but above all good people. We are having personal and group classes on this topic and it is going well,” says Gael Chávez, central defender from the Leones Negros de la UDG.
Ferráez, together with other partners, acquired the Paracuellos FC franchise, located in the Spanish fifth division, called Third Federation. It has 32 teams in all its categories, from benjamines to youth. México FC is the first team of the club that has, for the moment, with six Mexicans on the squad. “It was from one day to the next, nothing was planned. There was no choice but to take advantage of it. “I think it is a very good opportunity to earn a place and get excited to return to Mexico and return technically well,” he mentions. Yahir Zamoraleft back on loan from Pachuca for one season.
“Many teams have trusted us, Grupo Pachuca, who have a team in Spain which is Oviedo, sent us players. The UDG of Guadalajarajust like Yucatan deer They have sent us players who are already training and we hope in about two or three weeks to finish the legal procedures so that they can be playing on the field” Victor mentions and explains that the process is complex.
Not everyone can come to play in Spain. The high competition project Look for players from the Liga Mx and the Liga Expansión that stand out and can compete in the Spanish league where the methodology is different, as Jesús Martínez explains: “they are very demanding here and it is something that I also like.” The young striker from Pachuca highlights the opportunity, first because “he had never had teammates from other countries” while in sports the scheme changes due to “movements, knowing when to drive, one touch, two touches. In Mexico it is more tough, more fighting and here it is more strategic. It cost us a lot at first.”
One of Mexico FC’s goals is to climb the ranks, That is, form a competitive team that can play in the second or first division in the future. “The long-term project is to bring players, initially from Mexico. Develop all Spanish kids, of which we already have more than 600 in Paracuellos. In addition to the dream of moving up,” reflects Ferráez who is in no hurry to have the name of Mexico in La Liga but in a stable and productive project.
“There is no time, a specific goal of how many years to get where, but there is a specific goal to be able to reach the greatest number of young people possible.”
For now, There are six Mexicans seeking to consolidate themselves in Europe:
Jesús Martínez, forward, Club Pachuca, 21 years old: “Consolidate here, the opportunity is already there and wasting it is not in my plans, so consolidate here if possible”
Gael Chávez, central defender, Leones Negros, 18 years old: “This challenge was given to me early, that is, I am at a good age. More than anything it is to generate experience by playing in another continent and not in an easy one, but in the king of what soccer is. Above all, gain experience and if things happen here, then great, if not return to my club and perform in a better way.”
Rodrigo Martín, far left, Venados, 20 years old: “If possible, stay here, in Spain or in Europe and if not, have the opportunity to return to a better team, to a higher category.”
Jared Escalante, right back, Leones Negros, 19 years old: “I didn’t think twice and I came. What I want is to play in the first division in Mexico. Make your debut there, on whatever team, wherever you fall.”
Elim Díaz, center forward, Venados de Yucatán, 23 years old: “Mainly learning. What better than moving up the ranks with the team, whether here or on another team, it would be the best thing that could happen to me.”
Yahir Zamora, left back, Club Pachuca, 20 years old: “The aspiration is to come to do the best, have a good tournament, do things well to please the coach”
The ambitious project already adds to Luis Miguel Salvador as Sports Director and although the main goal is to be a springboard for Mexicans to European soccer, it wants to consolidate itself as a center of human development open to the world.
“I think being able to prove that we can change people’s mentality and being able to prove it with a high-performance ecosystem such as Spanish football is extremely challenging,” concluded the club’s president, Victor Ferráez.
AVV
