David Silva: From a childhood in a Spanish fishing village to Premier League superstar...
By ALEX KAY
Last updated at 11:00 PM on 20th October 2011
He has always been a bit of a dribbler... from the cot to the cauldron of Old Trafford on Sunday, where he will be the player for Manchester United to stop in a delicious derby encounter between the top two in the Barclays Premier League.
A dazzling footballer, who can play wide or through the middle - or even as centre forward, as he did for Spain against Scotland last week. He looks like the Lionel Messi of the Barclays Premier League... and you don't have to be a Manchester City fan to enjoy watching David Silva's graceful skills.
Size isn't everything: David Silva (above) is dwarfed by his cousin Ranzel when they played in a cot; and as a toddler (below)
David Josue Jimenez Silva. The boy has come a long way from the fishing village of Arguineguin and these pictures from his family album, never before seen in the UK, trace those steps from clambering around his cot with his cousin to flashing a toothy grin on the day of his first communion.
It is remarkable that Real Madrid rejected the chance to sign him as a 14-year-old after his mentor, Vicente Miranda, persuaded the Silva family to travel to Madrid and take their talented son for a trial.
The Real manager Vicente del Bosque (now manager of Spain) had been so intrigued that he came down every afternoon to see how the little midfielder from Gran Canaria was progressing. It all seemed to be going to plan.
Silva-service: The Spaniard is enjoying his second season in the Premier League
'He was very young and I knew he had so much potential,' said Miranda. 'Everyone was going crazy for him at the Real Madrid trials. He was so excited about the idea of playing for them. But they never called.'
It was a huge disappointment for a boy everyone was talking about back home. His family and Miranda had been sure he had done enough to earn a contract. Instead, he was told he was too small to make it at the Bernabeu.
Their loss, their mistake. Madrid tried to sign him from Valencia a decade later, with Chelsea also eager. But the Spanish club dropped their interest when Jose Mourinho became manager and so Silva signed for City and has shown why he had a World Cup and European Championship to his name by the age of 24. It surely won't be the last Silva-ware.
Looking the part: David (left) at eight alongside Ranzel, and his first communion (below)
While he has settled quickly off the pitch, he is also a joy to watch, with his dribbling, passing and movement. Unlike many other players, he refuses to wear strapping to protect his feet and ankles. That way he can really feel the ball.
That relationship with the ball goes back to his early days in Arguineguin when, as a five-year-old, he used to play on the touchline as his father Fernando Jimenez played the game semi-professionally for the local team.
He may be known as the magician of Manchester after the weekend
The fishermen greeted him as 'el Chino' - 'the Chinaman' in English - because of his small eyes, which come from his mother Eva Silva, who is of Japanese descent.
Silva started as a goalkeeper but soon found his true home on the wing, trying to mimic his idol Michael Laudrup's close control and dribbling skills while excelling for his youth team, San Fernando.
It was there a few years later that he was spotted by mentor Miranda, who persuaded the family to make the ultimately fruitless trip to Madrid.
Instead, it was Valencia who picked him up a few months later, having spotted him excelling at a junior tournament. He later benefited from loan spells at second division Eibar and first division Celta Vigo, where he became good friends with current Liverpool left back Jose Enrique.
Family matters: David with parents Fernando and Eva and sister Natalia on his brother Nano's first communion
Forty goals in four years for Valencia followed. Father Fernando, an ex-police officer, took a job as a security guard at Valencia when his son was there and now lives in England with his wife and son to satisfy David's craving for family life.
It is a relationship that continues to work for Silva and for City. Silva, who already boasts 52 caps, has played for Spain at Under 16, Under 17, Under 18, Under 20, Under 21 and now senior level.
While he hasn't always been first choice - he does have Chelsea's Juan Mata as well as the usual Barcelona brigade to contend with - his outstanding display against Scotland earned him attention and acclaim back in his homeland.
It followed a spectacular start to the season - he has been arguably the best player in England so far - and he is an idol in Gran Canaria too, where they renamed a sports club after him and now refer to him as 'el Mago de Arguineguin' - the Magician of Arguineguin.
He may be known as the magician of Manchester after the weekend.
Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-2051589/David-Silva-From-Spanish-fishing-village-Premier-League-superstar.html#ixzz1biYJVhQl
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-2051589/David-Silva-From-Spanish-fishing-village-Premier-League-superstar.html
No hay comentarios:
Publicar un comentario