If he was African--A case of Michu!

[Cellular]

For the self loathing natives. Especially the jobless troll... They will start questioning his age... how could a talent just end abruptly... Playing in division 4 after playing in the premiere league. They forget that injury do happen... it can derail promising careers even for young people.

Off-the-radar: More to life than football – the story of Michu

By Sarthak Kumar
@Vallecanos1924 on Dec 6, 2015, 8:00p 16

Harry Engels/Getty Images

Sarthak Kumar narrates the story of Michu and explains his baffling decision to join amateur, fourth-division side UD Langreo

I grew up there, and it’s where I go home

–Michu, on the city of Oviedo

Michu was born and raised in the proud confines of the city of Oviedo, the capital of Asturias. A city known for being the birthplace of Fernando Alonso and Juan Mata, for the University of Oviedo - whose list of graduates include Sid Lowe - and for its unwavering dedication to art, culture, and dance.

Michu debuted in 2003 and played for Real Oviedo for four years, a club he saw move from the Tercera to the Segunda B and back again. He was the main player, the fulcrum of the team. Unfortunately, the club’s main concern was not how they were playing, but rather if they were playing. With financial problems and a relegation to the fourth tier, Michu left for second-tier Celta Vigo.

Initially with the reserves, he was called up a year later in 2008, where he stayed for three more seasons. He was, again, a mainstay but, playing as an attacking midfielder, he seemed to never score much, and didn’t register a single assist. Celta let his contract expire, and no one noticed.

Rayo Vallecano, freshly promoted to the top flight, signed him on a free in July 2011, and no one noticed.

But it was a masterstroke from José Ramón Sandoval. At Rayo, where the attacking midfielder has historically been the main goalscorer, Michu prospered. 15 goals he had scored in La Liga, one more than the 14 he had scored with Celta for four seasons.

Those goals were important too, including braces against Real Sociedad, Racing de Santander, Osasuna and Real Madrid. It was his first season in La Liga and he had been a revelation.

He then transferred to Swansea in 2012 for €2.57 million, where he played as a striker and stuned the EPL. 18 league goals, the League Cup, links to Manchester United - the success just kept on coming.

Next season, Michu found himself playing as an attacking midfielder again, because of course the new €13.9 million striker Wilfried Bony is going to play as a striker. But he adjusted his game, to suit the team. And he did well, and still scored regularly. He finally got to play for the Spanish national team in October, with an impressive 56-minute shift as a striker against Belarus. What could possibly go wrong?

Everything.

In November, he suffered a knee injury that kept him out for a month, then suffered a Sprained Ankle that kept him out for another five weeks. Whether he was given the proper time to recover or not, something wasn’t right.

He had lost that ability to wriggle out of tight spots, to make those late runs into the box. He may have been physically alright but mentally, there was fear. A fear that was affecting his game. A fear that his injury would come back to haunt him.

He was loaned out to Napoli, but was again misused in that attacking midfielder role. Without regular match time he was suffering. It turned out he would suffer much more.

Michu was diagnosed with periostitis on November 4, 2014, a medical condition caused by inflammation of the connective tissue surrounding the bone. Chronic? You bet.

Not being given the proper time to recover had come back to haunt him. He was ruled out for the rest of the season, and that’s when reality had hit him - there is more to life than football. More to life than playing for the top clubs and being famous and rich. More to life than the glamour of interviews and endorsements and advertisements. More to life than the life of a footballer.

He let time heal his wounds, he quit Swansea and joined amateur, fourth division club UD Langreo, to start anew - if not his football career then at least his career as a whole. Michu had rejected offers from top flight clubs such as Rayo Vallecano and Granada. But why?

Because Langreo is 20 kilometers away from Oviedo.

It’s where he grew up, and it’s where he goes home.

http://www.barcablaugranes.com/2015/12/ ... y-of-michu

[airwolex]

Respect!

[smartbrother]

something else is at play here
maybe he is still crippled by fear
there's more to life than football yes but there's plenty of life to live after your football playing career is over
why not maximize your playing days while you still can
i suspect he is battling some psychological issues and sugarcoating it with this philosophical crap about life away from glamour & advertisements etc

[Eaglezbeak]

Not many Africans would return to play for their home town if given a choice they'll probably choose park football in Hackney Marshes,Michu is obviously happy with life now!

[metalalloy]

nah so now... Thank you for this post.

[kajifu]

He has a curse when he score that goal against Arsenal.
So I hope you guys know juju dey for football

[bushboy]

Not sure this is the best example. Michu is not in division 4 because he is short of top flight offers. He is in division 4 because he CHOOSES to.

[Eaglezbeak]

Not sure this is the best example. Michu is not in division 4 because he is short of top flight offers. He is in division 4 because he CHOOSES to.

Thank you!

[Cellular]

Not sure this is the best example. Michu is not in division 4 because he is short of top flight offers. He is in division 4 because he CHOOSES to.

Thank you!

The point is that if you did not know his story you will think how did a young player go from playing in the EPL and currently playing in division 4 in a matter of years. It is a cautionary tale that about being quick to jump to conclusions about why players drop out of circulation. Had he been African, they will say it was because he was old to begin with...

[Cellular]

Not sure this is the best example. Michu is not in division 4 because he is short of top flight offers. He is in division 4 because he CHOOSES to.

SMDH. He did NOT choose to anything. He was force to due to injuries. He is playing his way back to fitness. He is not the same player he once was. You are here talking about choosing.

[balo]

I wanted to bring this up in the Yahaya thread yesterday when I read that Michu was playing in 4th division.

Dang!! Michu of all Strikers in the 4th division.

[Chief Ogbunigwe]

Natives!

[Rawlings]

For the self loathing natives. Especially the jobless troll... They will start questioning his age... how could a talent just end abruptly... Playing in division 4 after playing in the premiere league. They forget that injury do happen... it can derail promising careers even for young people.

Oga, some of our brothers retire at 20

[Bigpokey24]

Natives!

pot

[Chief Ogbunigwe]

Natives!

pot

I am not surprised you showed up with your turkey thigh. Native

[balo]

For the self loathing natives. Especially the jobless troll... They will start questioning his age... how could a talent just end abruptly... Playing in division 4 after playing in the premiere league. They forget that injury do happen... it can derail promising careers even for young people.

Oga, some of our brothers retire at 20

Did Olele retire?

[Super Eagle]

Not sure this is the best example. Michu is not in division 4 because he is short of top flight offers. He is in division 4 because he CHOOSES to.

Oh really?

Dang! Reading is fundamental, f'shuo

[Rawlings]

For the self loathing natives. Especially the jobless troll... They will start questioning his age... how could a talent just end abruptly... Playing in division 4 after playing in the premiere league. They forget that injury do happen... it can derail promising careers even for young people.

Oga, some of our brothers retire at 20

Did Olele retire?

Olele is still active in the local league. He is even dreaming of Russia 2018

[metalalloy]

Not sure this is the best example. Michu is not in division 4 because he is short of top flight offers. He is in division 4 because he CHOOSES to.

Oh so its choice now eh? When someone like Mikel CHOOSES to stay at Chelsea, he is accused of lacking "ambition"

[kajifu]

Not sure this is the best example. Michu is not in division 4 because he is short of top flight offers. He is in division 4 because he CHOOSES to.

Oh so its choice now eh? When someone like Mikel CHOOSES to stay at Chelsea, he is accused of lacking "ambition"

Why bother respond to such lies,same guy who will jump to say Victor Moses is not good and that is why he play for West Ham but not choose.