Debuting in the Conmebol Copa Libertadores: The Inspiring Journey of Franco García from Racing de Nueva Italia to Cobresal de Chile

The number “14” shirt with the surname García on the back and the Conmebol Copa Libertadores logo in the locker room will surely be one of the memories that will never be erased from your memory.

For every professional footballer, getting to play in a Copa Libertadores match is a great desire, a dream. It is taking a big step forward.

More so if you have to come well from below, from the Cordoba Football League.

Franco “Wachi” García was there in the worst moments of Racing de Nueva Italia, the club that is his home, his family.

This 26-year-old forward had to be in the most complex moments of the Academy, after the relegation of Federal A and the rebirth from the LCF, with Hernán “Tota” Medina as coach.

García lived through this entire process since he trained in Racing since he was a child.

Until he had the chance to jump into foreign football, after achieving three promotions and becoming a figure in the Nueva Italia club.

Franco “Wachi” García, in his beginnings in Racing. His house. (Archive).

Cobresal de Chile was the opportunity to explode in his career and the decision has really been more than right.

Since 2023 he has worn the colors of this Chilean club and last Tuesday, April 2, he started in what was his debut in the Copa Libertadores.

“El Wachi” had a good performance in the 1-1 draw against Barcelona of Ecuador on the first day of Group B that also includes Talleres and Sao Paulo of Brazil.

Franco “Wachi” García, striker from Córdoba for Cobresal in Chile. (Prensa Cobresal). Franco “Wachi” García, striker from Córdoba for Cobresal in Chile. (Cobresal Press).

Precisely, on the fifth date, Cobresal will visit Matador (Tuesday, May 14, at 7 p.m.) and García will be able to return to Córdoba, now as an international player.

“I adapted quickly to both the league, the club and the town. It was a fantastic year. “One came with great expectations to meet important objectives, one always wants to seek to grow and I came with a hunger for glory, eager to continue growing, I am not a conformist and I want to continue progressing,” Franco said.

“Cobresal is a nice club, which has its comforts and facilities. Chilean soccer is very nice and competitive,” he added.

“Wachi” was in Racing from the age of 8 and it was his only club until this Chilean experience.

“I came to Racing when I was eight years old. I’ve been there all my life, it’s been my only club. I made my debut at 17 in the first team, I managed to be promoted three times and I felt that I needed a change of scenery, that it was a cycle completed. Luckily it happened in the best way and I want to repay that trust that Cobresal had in betting on me.”

In Cobresal, García has as teammates another former Talleres, the Córdoba goalkeeper Leandro Requena. Also the Argentines Franco Bechtholdt, Leandro Navarro and Gastón Lezcano.

Franco “Wachi” García, striker from Córdoba for Cobresal in Chile. (Cobresal Press).

Cobresal is in the city of El Salvador, located at an altitude of 2600 in the foothills, in the Atacama Region.

In recent times, it has become one of the most successful clubs in the regions and the north of Chile, managing to win the two main Chilean football tournaments: the 1987 Chile Cup and the 2015 Clausura Tournament. It is one of the seven teams non-capital residents who have managed to be crowned champions of the First Division of Chile.

Their classic is Cobreloa and they play at home in the El Cobre stadium, with capacity for 12 thousand people. The striking thing is that its field has three times the population of El Salvador, which is a small place.

That’s where the football dreams of Franco “Wachi” García reached, who made his debut in the Copa Libertadores and is now going for much more.

2024-04-05 01:46:10
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