Alberto Flores, the goalkeeper to whom the legend Andres Palop passed the baton and made his debut for Sevilla today | Relief

It was June 1, 2013. After Sevilla’s victory over Valencia in La Liga, the best goalkeeper in the club’s history said goodbye to his home. His exploits are forever etched in the memory of Seville, who after winning the UEFA Cup twice – with a goal against Shakhtar Donetsk and a stop in Glasgow – won the Copa del Rey, the European Super Cup and another in Spain., in addition to the 2008 European Championship with Spain. There is even a Sevilla fans club named after him.

It was a special moment. It’s always difficult to say goodbye to someone who has given you so much. The memories that take on an even more important role reflect the sporting situation in which the Andalusians found themselves, who only managed to forget Palope when Bono was in front of their gates. On June 1, the Valencian wanted to fake his retirement by giving a jersey to a diminutive home-grown goalkeeper named Alberto Flores. More than 10 years later, the young Sevilla goalkeeper made his debut against Getafe..

“I have a good relationship with both Alberto and his family. We have a very good friendship. At that moment it was a symbolic act: after retiring, I wanted to give my jersey to the youth goalkeeper, and Alberto, seeing how he plays in the youth team, it seemed to me that this is a goalkeeper who has already shown many qualities while playing, and with this gesture we decided to give him a testimony. I’m very happy to see his debut today. We continue to communicate well,” Palop told us after receiving the news.

“He is a very complete goalkeeper. He worked a lot in silence. He was a boy who kept his feet on the ground and never tired of training every day to learn, improve and develop.” For me, he is a goalkeeper who dominates in all aspects: footwork, aerial play, he dribbles the ball very well and closes down angles. He has a bright future and there is a reason why he is the starting goalkeeper for the reserve team and is having a great season. You will love this opportunity. “I trust him a lot,” he says.

The man who knows the quarry best is Pablo Blanco. During his years in charge, he made huge profits from players who made it into the first team and were transferred to other clubs. Even some of them, such as Sergio Ramos, Carlos Marchena or Jesus Navas, managed to become world champions as part of the national team. “He has been playing at the club for many years. Standing at 180-182, I define him as a very agile, quick goalie who is good on the top. He is less powerful than Juan Soriano, but similar in his mannerisms. risks with air balls”Pablo Blanco describes us.