Marcelo Rios vs. Manuel Astorga: The story behind the breakup that made him an enemy forever

From time to time, the relationship between Marcelo Ríos and Manuel Astorga comes to the fore. Always, because one of the two launches acerbic comments on the other. A bond that had its most intimate moment when Chino became world number one in 1998, but which changed completely two years later on the north beach of Puerto Velero. Therefore, the break is total.

The reason for the enmity happened suddenly. Literally. It was in January 2000, while both were in the La Serena area to do their pre-season, that Ríos ran over his physical trainer with a car. The action, which was carried out as a joke, caused serious knee injuries to Astorga, who eventually reported the situation to the press.

“I didn’t tell the story because I didn’t want Marcelo to get hurt, but obviously it wasn’t intentional. Unfortunately, when I got out of his vehicle, he thought to make a joke or something. like that, but he started the car in front and ran over my leg.” was the confession he made to the media at the time.

That the situation became public annoyed the then ATP 8, who immediately fired Astorga. The professional breakup would end in a lawsuit from the PF and end a very close relationship. Proof of this is the tennis player’s memorable press conference in 1999 where he burst into tears after a breakup. In this case, his squire was the physical trainer, who even gave number one a big hug . All this was recorded by the television channels.

And it is that in recent years the only thing that has linked them has been the constant criticism that has been launched through the press or social networks. Without going any further, yesterday was the last episode of this novel. In an interview with Radio Touch, the also sports commentator, had harsh words for the former tennis player, calling him his great failure. “It is the most deplorable being. And the worst mistake I made in my life was working with him… I can’t stand ungrateful people. I can’t stand vulgarity. I can’t stand the spicy. I can’t stand lying. I can’t stand the backlash or “vilification” because someone has stature to speak because they’ve managed to be the best in the world or because they have a lot of money or because they have a big title. For me, the biggest failure as a teacher and graduate in education is Marcelo Ríos” launched Astorga without a doubt.

Statements that at the moment have no response, but it would not be strange if they were addressed by Ríos, since in the past he had no problem mocking and attacking his former physical trainer. For example, in 2020 and following an interview in La Tercera with Juan Ramírez, former PF of Arturo Vidal, the “Chino” spoke in harsh terms of the work carried out by Astorga.

The left-hander shared a screenshot of the note on his social media and posted the following: “Seeing this interview, and having the possibility of having a PF by your side who, without knowing him and seeing how he has you physically, realizes that the guy is very clear about his work, and I’m very happy about that since I didn’t have that opportunity to have Someone by my side who made me feel better every day. In addition, I spent 10 years with a clown, what a desire to go back and be able to train people, I wish you the best ”.

But that wasn’t the only time the former Sunshine Double champion has aired his differences with Astorga this year. Just weeks after the interview episode, the reviews returned.

It was the PF who attacked first, comparing Arturo Vidal to the tennis player following a live Instagram where the King appeared in a doubtful state. “I tell him openly, I have a certain affection for him. I know he’s mad at me, he got along with Chino Ríos and I don’t care. Arthur, you are wrong. If you think you have won titles with Colo Colo, Juventus being one of their top scorers, you have won everything with Bayern Munich, Barcelona. If you think that’s why you can do whatever you want, you’re confused and you’re wrong… It bothers me that it has a parallel with the behavior of Marcelo Ríos” exposed in the program El Que Calla, Astorga, of RedGol.

An opinion that the student of Larry Stefanski could not bear. He took to Instagram again and again attacked his former collaborator. “We clarify the panorama: to make it clear what I was and what Vidal is, you are the person least able to make an analysis of what is good or what is wrong, since you have no never been anything in sport or in your life shit you’ve always had. Doing a live healed and with no intention of hurting anyone, I can’t find anything wrong, and if you should be ashamed and a lot, it’s when you healed yourself and left the shit aside since you mixed it with other things. Besides, who the hell are you to give advice to Vidal, I doubt he knows who you are” he commented on this occasion.