Ricardo Gareca | Donny Neyra: “I’m his baby from Gareca, he’s my old man” [ENTREVISTA] | FOOTBALL-PERU

Donny Neyra was a disappointment, however. When he put the ball down, it was a problem for Ricardo Gareca. He was called a jerrycan because of his robust figure, contradictory to his quality and cunning on the field, especially in that Apertura in 2008, when wearing the University T-shirt and having “Tiger” as coach, he wore the best of the repertoire. or. Being overweight, for Donny, has never been a problem, because it has always been a move forward due to his mental speed.

Almost thirteen years later, already far from professional football, Donny Neyra picks up the phone and does not hesitate to talk comfortably with EL BOCÓN. He knows us, we know each other. His triumphs and falls were our coverings. There is appreciation, trust. That’s why he doesn’t hesitate to talk about everything: what he kept for the pillow, what he always wanted to say and what the bocómano likes; anecdote, spicy.

Donny Neyra talks about his “father” Gareca, he warns that he was the first “son” before Christian Cueva; he tells how he played overweight at the Sports University and still broke it. “Bidón” also tells the dark but inevitable part of retirement: the dangerous depression. He also says that he gained 30 kilograms due to the pandemic and that he quarantined the sale of masks, gloves and even oxygen. He takes the time to talk about the descendants of the Lima Alliance and – of course – to say where his “Riquelme de Ate” badge comes from.

This is Donny Neyra without filters.

Away from football, what are you doing?

4 years ago I gave up football due to depression, before I separated. I wanted to go back to training, but I can’t stand it. Now, in a pandemic, I am dedicated to selling masks, gloves, oxygen. And personally, I gained 30 pounds. I now weigh 111 kilograms, unrecognizable. I ate Donny (laughs). In the neighborhood, friends tell me I ate oxygen balloons, ha ha ha.

Is the talent still intact?

The other day I played pichanga with Juan Carlos Mariño and people exploded. I was waiting for the completion of an oxygen balloon purchase, I gave my shoes to someone and I played. The work is very difficult, in my neighborhood I did the resource every day, a little off the field.

As a footballer, did you play at your ideal weight?

Nothing, I gained weight. I have to play 85, 86 or 87 kilograms. I always had weight problems, but I did a lot of squatting and mixing. He was still fat, but from chibolo.

Ricardo Gareca had his birthday, his 63rd birthday.

For me, he is a person I cherish, I admire, I respect, a series of virtues. He is my old man, my father, an important person in my life.

Who nicknamed you “Riquelme de Ate”?

That his was a joke by Willy Rivas, “Charra” Rabanal, ha ha ha.

Did you see the appearance of Ricardo Gareca at the beginning of the pandemic?

If Hahaha. He looked like a shipwrecked man. My old man wanted to go unnoticed, but his size pushed him away. Always for shaving. She combs her hand, ha ha ha.

Any anecdotes with Ricardo Gareca?

There are a few. South American game I didn’t travel because I was late for two previous training sessions. I warned, but he didn’t send it to me. The team, “U”, travels to Quito at dawn. It was very hard. He told me, “I made the decision to get you out.” The worst thing is that he did not look at my face, but at the side. After that, I went out and cried, I felt I had failed him. A few days later, they called me from Quito: “The teacher says you will play again.” But we didn’t talk to each other. One day I was in Tacna, while he was pouring water on my hair, concentrating, he said to me: “Let’s see if we can resume the relationship”. I all pampered myself, I replied: “but if you don’t talk to me”. And he said again, “Hey, after shit … what did you do,” ha ha ha. Ricardo, my old man, brought out the best in me in football. It marked a lot in my life, it could have been much better if he continued with me, but fate did not want it.

Was he going to take you to Velez?

This was said by “Malingas” Jiménez and Raúl Fernández, who loved all three of us, but it didn’t happen.

Is Ricardo loved and respected after he took us to the World Cup?

I remember when his name was just called up for the national team. I talked to Néstor Bonillo, another friend of mine, I really like him. I called him and asked, “Professor, and I’m already in the selection”? “No, we’re on it,” he replied. But what do you expect, silver is what is in the Federation. What happens is that they don’t want to pay them, I said laughing. Whenever I could make my little comment, they listened to me.

Do you have competition, another brother in Christian Cueva?

I am her first Peruvian child, I am the oldest, Cueva is my younger brother, ha ha ha. Ricardo likes the Christian very much, the respect is mutual.

Do you know that too?

We have mutual friends, we get along well. I made video calls. I’m glad he’s happy in Arabia, the rest comes alone.

Does Gareca Cueva dress in front of the critics?

That’s right, he always sees the human side. He is very smart. All the guys on the national team kill for him. He is a coach who knows how to reach the football player. In college, even those who played were happy.

There will be more casualties for the games against Bolivia and Venezuela. Wouldn’t those in MLS come for restrictions in the US?

We need the boys to film. Paolo has a rope for a while. Farfán may be inactive, but he still breaks his waist. In La Paz, it will be very difficult, but there is capacity. Ricardo must have already thought about what to do.

Was the descent of the Alliance surprising?

A shame for all the people of the Alliance. I have many friends, I played there. They were very good players, but few game ideas, little self-esteem for the institution. Fate played him wrong. No one will want to play to lose and go down.