I was born in Santa Cruz de Tenerife and in Abades I grew up with my brothers. I return whenever I can because it's my little refuge. My childhood memories passed between the school, the beach and, of course, the sports centre. It was a very quiet place and we spent hours and hours playing football. In those matches I dreamt of being like FC Barcelona stars, which in that moment were the Brazilians Rivaldo and Ronaldo.
My brother convinced my father to let me try on a football team. So I started with ten years in San Isidro, my first and only club before joining Barça. I joined the Under 12 team, but I was always looking at that the older guys because I wanted to learn everything. Ivan, my coach, was from La Laguna, but picked me every day in Abades so I could train with them. We did quite a good work with him; I remember he always insisted us in using both legs. Over time I realized how important this advice has been in the way I play.
Step by step I got older, working and learning. In U17 team I enjoyed a great season in 2003-04 scoring 24 goals. That performance let me play for the first time in Third Division with the senior team, when I was only 15 years old. I was such a small guy that I had to protect myself. My coach was very concerned about this, he didn´t wanted me to get hurt. Even so, I managed to do a very good season that helped me to be on the list for the Villa de Adeje U18 Tournament, a very important international event which takes place in the south of the island of Tenerife.
I wasn’t used to see my name on the lists of regional teams, but that good year made it possible, I was on the list to play for the South team. It was very special for me, in fact, was the key that opened the doors of La Masia. We played two games in which I found myself very comfortable, achieving high performance, which served for Barça scouts to set on my skills.
Josep Colomer, former Barça’s youth director, proposed me to pack my luggage and fly to Barcelona with him. When I heard from his lips that F.C. Barcelona wanted to sign me, I couldn’t believe what was happening. Of course, I gladly accepted because I've always been a fan of the club. The news became a great joy for my whole family. And me? What can I say? It was fulfilling a dream.
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