Nestor Díaz writes.
A brush on the feet.
When we speak of a brush, we are referring to an instrument that draws millimetric lines, undulations, figures, to form a painting, a canvas with a dazzling finish before the eyes of any mortal with exquisite taste for such art. This is precisely what “el pibe” Valderrama embodies in world football. “Pibe”, a nickname given to him by his father’s coach, the Argentine Rubén Deibe, when he was just a child. With his boots on the pitch, he conducts an orchestra; when it is convenient, he closes the curtain, when it is not, he opens it, to make room for a dance orchestrated with the leather one. He is one of those players who make the difference; they do not need to run to get close to the opponent’s goal. His panoramic vision of the game, the talent in his feet to throw passes and his ability to “send to buy bread” place him among the best creative players of all time. The Colombian César Cueto. He is one of the 15 athletes with the most assists in the history of the game.
A scene that will never be forgotten by those from the land of García Márquez is the one that took place on September 5, 1993, when in Buenos Aires the “coffee” national team won with a 5-nil thrashing against the Argentines; the goals were scored by Freddy Rincón (brace), Faustino Asprilla (brace) and Adolfo Valencia, who sealed a magical night for “la tricolor”. It was the qualifiers for the USA ’94 World Cup; the “Rioplatenses” had missed the appointment and the “mapocha” fans dreamed of sweeping, enjoying and imposing their unbalanced game in “Yankee” lands. “El pibe” Valderrama is fundamental in that victory, of course he is flanked by superlative quality athletes, but he is the director of the movie. In the dressing room, after the match, between celebrations, an actor slips: “Now they are going to ask us to win the World Cup! Coincidentally, in that World Cup party, brilliant selections step on the red carpet; and it is another story.
During that match against Argentina, the blond-haired striker himself tells an intimate anecdote with “el Tino” Asprilla: “The professor (Francisco Maturana) gave the talk at the hotel and we went to the stadium. In the bus, everyone was throwing pods and we were concentrating on the match. We arrived at the dressing room; I didn’t like to go out at the beginning. Everyone was equipped, I was looking after my teammates and Tino was always by my side; not that day: Erda, and Fausto, where is he? I started to look for him if he was in the bathroom and I looked through the skylight; the stadium was full and I saw him in the middle of the field with his cell phone. And I say: “This son of a bitch… is talking, while we are here under pressure and he is relaxing over there”. “Hey, Fausto, what’s the matter with you,” I said. And Asprilla answered me: “You give me two, I’ll score two. Don’t worry about me, I’m fine; give me two goals, I’ll score two”. And so it was, he scored twice and was the star player. Faustino Asprilla reflects, thanking him: “He made me a better player because I knew I couldn’t miss. He had that monkey (that’s what blondes are called in Colombia) that taught me to be competitive, to improve every day”.
With the privilege of having a paintbrush on his feet, he walks around the fields with his socks at mid-calf. Not even the referees dare to recommend that he pull them up. When journalists ask him why he wears his socks, Valderrama, in a Caribbean tone, provokes laughter and the headline of the day: “Aha, because I’m a lower middle class player”. On the other hand, in an interview with Luis Omar Tapia (the best sports narrator on pay TV), he comments that his graduation was at risk: “I finish high school, and me with my afro like this. My dad would say to my mom: “What about this guy?” What is he going to study? “Where are they going to accept this guy with this look on his face?” The rector wouldn’t give him his diploma if he didn’t cut his hair. When his father took him to the hairdresser, the stylist said: “Kid, are you really going to cut that hair?” and he answered: “No, I’m not going to take off this note”, so he just fixed his hair. When the day arrived, the director had no choice but to hand him the cardboard, with a handshake and a few words: “Joda, you don’t pay attention”. And after the obligatory photo, he replied: “Don’t come here anymore! This professor did not know that he was in front of a future global star; perhaps he realized it too late when there was no room for a “Come back, we’re waiting for you!”.
Among titles won with several clubs, “El Pibe” participated in the World Cups of Italy 90, United States 94 and France 98. Considered by Pelé himself, he was included in the list of the best players of the century by IFFHS in 2004 and has been awarded the title of Best Player of America in two seasons, in 1987 and 1993. He is the first Colombian to be inducted into the Soccer Hall of Fame. A postcard for eternity is the one from the 98 World Cup, when David Beckham ran to ask Valderrama for his jersey, as a sign of respect and admiration. Santa Marta saw the birth of Carlos Alberto Valderrama Palacio, from a soccer family, on September 2, 1961. It was on those beaches that he got to know soccer and it is there where the backline germinates. Center to the area and you have the ball!
