Why does the Golden Generation not want to return to Chile?

Every transfer window, especially lately, Universidad Católica fans reactivate the illusion. see again Gary Medell (35) Wearing the striped team colors is a dream . The Pitbull’s identification with the Las Condes club is total. Not just because of his status as a former player formed in the quarries of San Carlos de Apoquindo; also because he is a recognized fan.

However, It was the footballer himself who brought down the desire and fueled the other reaction : disappointment for a wait that becomes eternal. “My family and I want to stay here. I want to play in Bologna until I’m 40 he told Il Corriere dello Sport in Italy. “At a certain age, you trade one season at a time. I’m still the same, old man, but I never give up,” he insisted. So UC will have to be patient to have their most illustrious youth group back, if they manage to. to come back.

Medel is hardly the most sincere of the Golden Generation when it comes to admitting his true intentions for the rest of his career. Others often resort to euphemisms. Arturo Vidal (35 years old), for example, has always said that he would like to return to Colo Colo , but lately it has added conditions to the use of potential. “If there is a serious project, yes” he said, without going any further, this month, when he was consulted by a white fan, via his Instagram account.

The King has always been extremely careful with matter. A few days ago he said that if Colo Colo wants to win the Copa Libertadores he won’t hesitate to go for it. Then he repented and apologized to Fla fans. And he wastes no time in another direction either: he generally likes every Boca Juniors post, the first to show interest in signing him when his relationship with Inter Milan ended and, as a result, his time in European football.

This is not the only one. Alexis Sánchez (34) also didn’t play with a return delay. El Niño Maravilla, who trained in Cobreloa and was champion with Colo Colo, has repeatedly hinted that he would like to play in University of Chile grant the wish of his adoptive father, José Delaigue . “I think it was a dream of my family, of my dad who is now in heaven, that he was from the U. And the truth is, I think a lot of my family members would love for me to end up in the U,” he said. declared in 2018.

In November, Claudio Bravo (39) also put the headstone around him . “I am very sincere. I look good at Betis. I have a season left and maybe another, but I don’t want to push the processes of absolutely anything either. “, said. “When you get used to something, you don’t want to let go. I’m used to being at this level and if the abilities decrease we’ll see if I continue or not” “, he developed. The analysis continued. “If it gives me time to return to Chilean football or to walk elsewhere, I do not want to get ahead of anything”, he underlined, avoiding to get caught up in the words.

There are several reasons to understand why the main references of Chilean football are in no rush to return. Vidal, in fact, establishes one, which could well extend beyond Macul: the need to enroll in a serious sports project . It is with this understanding, for example, that the UC managed to convince Mauricio Isla and Eugenio Mena. El Chueco even waived the economic benefits for accepting the crossover proposal. And, certainly, he left the U on hold.

The King feels he is still able to tackle important sporting goals. In Flamengo, in fact, he won the Copa Libertadores. Something similar happens to his colleagues. Medel acknowledges this when he says he wants to continue to aspire to European competitions with Bologna. Bravo also supported him. And Sánchez, no way . When he left Inter, he made it a condition that the next team he defended would play in the Champions League. This is why he chose Olympique de Marseille among the proposals he was considering. In France, moreover, it continues to prove itself. Without going any further, it was the big figure eliminating PSG in the Coupe de France, in the middle of the week.

There are also cultural factors. Bravo, for example, admitted that staying in Europe is also due to his children’s education, something he values ​​highly. In fact, at Manchester City, he appreciated that his offspring were fluent in English.

Three of the four maximum referents of the Golden Generation are united by a common factor: they are represented by Fernando Felicevitch . Bravo, on the other hand, is advised by Cristián Ogalde. The influence of the Argentine agent is decisive for Medel, Vidal and Sánchez. And the position of the intermediary as to a possible return is categorical. “I don’t see it as a necessary step. They have nothing to close. They did great races. The end of his career in the club of his loves is not a step that seems obligatory or necessary to me, ”he replied in an interview with El Deportivo. “Let them retire where they are happy. Let them do what makes them happy, let them finish their career as they want and where they want,” he added.

Then he addressed two specific cases, although with nuances regarding the current scenario. “It’s Gary’s dream and I’m going to do my best to make it come true… It’s gonna happen “, he mentioned about a possible return of Medel to UC, but He was more skeptical of Sánchez’s arrival at the U. “I see it as difficult,” he said.

Manuel Pellegrini is not part of the Golden Generation, although due to his campaign abroad he deserves consideration of the same magnitude as players who carry the double American championship.

The former U defender has said he wants to return. He has declared it publicly and those in his inner circle know it too. However, he never set a deadline for action.

In November, in fact, he returned to the subject and set himself a personal objective which can be considered as a condition. “FOR I would love to lead the Reds to a World Cup. I had the opportunity to manage in the Copa Libertadores, in the Champions League, in the European Cup, in different leagues, but the only thing that I could not manage was in the World Cup “, held.

Later, his position was similar to that of Vidal regarding Colo Colo.”When there is a board that can consider developing football with clear plans, investments, I would like to be in charge of a serious project “, noted the coach of Betis in the same intervention. Again, no date set.