Two young Spanish footballers who travelled to England together for trials with Liverpool more than a decade ago are preparing to face each other in the Copa del Rey tonight, having taken very different paths in their careers.
Alberto Vázquez and Gonzalo Villar were just 16 when they spent two weeks on trial at Liverpool, hoping to earn places in the club’s academy.
The two midfielders had grown up playing together in Spain, progressing through the youth systems of Real Murcia and Elche, and were close friends when the opportunity to impress Liverpool came along.
According to Spanish newspaper AS, both players had the possibility of remaining with the Reds, but neither ended up joining the club. The report does not explain precisely why their moves failed to materialise.
More than a decade later, their careers could hardly be more different.
Villar, now 28, is an established La Liga midfielder playing for Elche, where he has become an important member of Martín Anselmi’s first-team squad. He signed a permanent contract with the Spanish club earlier this year, keeping him there until 2029.
Vázquez, also 28, plays for UD Pinatar in Spain’s sixth tier, combining his football commitments with a job in an estate agency.
He spent six years in Elche’s youth system and eventually made an appearance for the first team in Spain’s third division, but was unable to establish himself at a higher level.
While Villar went on to build a career in top-flight football, Vázquez continued playing for various smaller Spanish clubs before eventually settling at Pinatar.
The former Liverpool trialists are now set to come face to face when Pinatar host Elche in the first round of the Copa del Rey on Tuesday evening.
For Vázquez, the fixture is particularly special because it brings him up against both his former club and one of his closest friends.
“We’re very good friends. Gonzalo is in the best form of his career and I’m really happy for him,” Vázquez told AS.
“I was delighted when we were drawn against Elche because I spent six years there and because of my friendship with Gonzalo. We’re really excited about playing this match.”
The pair have remained in contact since their teenage years, despite their careers heading in different directions.
Vázquez has also spoken positively about his experience at Liverpool, explaining in a separate interview with the Spanish media that he was grateful for the opportunity to travel to England and had been treated well by the club.
Their reunion is another reminder of just how unpredictable football can be.
Two youngsters once travelled to Liverpool together with the same ambition of making it at the highest level. Neither secured a place with the Reds, but one has since established himself in La Liga while the other now plays regional football alongside his day job.
Tonight, more than ten years after their Liverpool adventure, their paths will cross again on the pitch.
