At the end of your career Juan Manuel Vargas he had admitted what was the capital mistake that did not allow him to enter the Olympus of Serie A. “I’ve been unprofessional at times, I know.” The talent was boundless, as was the bucking and the ability to kick, but also the desire to party that accompanied him throughout his career. He was “El Torpedo” in his homeland, while “El Loco” in Florence, because he was the author of small hours and flying bottles, barbecues in the Cascine Park with his compatriots, but also extraordinary goals.
However, his first experience in Italy was at Lo Monaco’s Catania, a sporting director who was always attentive to what was happening in Argentina. Vargas was purchased by the Colon of Santa Fè, ending up in the Argentine colony stationed in Sicily. In his second year at Catania he scored five goals in thirty-six appearances, as a full-back, also attracting the attention of top-tier clubs, such as Bayern Munich and Chelsea. Prandelli bets on him, at twenty-five years old, when Pantaleo Corvino shows up with twelve million euros for the Etna players.
Here too the first two seasons are excellent. For the umpteenth time sirens are coming from very important clubs, such as Real Madrid. The gap between supply and demand is decidedly impossible to fill: 40 million Corvino is asking, the offer could reach around 13 million plus bonuses. Nothing to do. However, local life came to an end in January 2011: his Porsche Cayenne overturned in the streets leading to Piazzale Michelangelo, in Florence. According to the findings carried out, the driver is the drunk cousin – who does not have a driving license – who also causes a serious accident to the other passing car. Then Genoa, Betis and Universitario, when Real’s dreams of greatness were already gone. Today Juan Manuel Vargas turns 41.