Next weekend, Argentine football will be celebrating the long-awaited date of the
Professional League Cup
classics , with
River-Boca
as the star protagonist.
But, several kilometers away, there will be
another albiceleste illusion
that will take its first step.
Muchachos FC
, the only Argentine team among the 12 that will be in the first edition of the
Américas Kings League
, will have its debut with the presence of its president, the influencer and actor
Jerónimo Freixas
.
Football and acting are two areas that Freixas is passionate about
.
His media figure was enhanced by the pandemic and his talks in the car that multiplied laughter on social networks reached the Argentine National Team players themselves, who took him as one of his favorites.
That also fueled
his devotion to Lionel Messi
, who has a special place in this new project within the creation of
Gerard Piqué
, who arrives in America after his success in Spain.
The day we have been waiting for has arrived.
We officially present our venue for the first Split 🏟️
This is a sanctuary, where passion, courage and glory will be found in every match, in every double goal and in every penalty shot ⚽️
Get ready to be part of our… pic.twitter. com/4hOfDAjyA1
— Kings League Santander (@kingsleague_am) February 21, 2024
Freixas spoke with
Clarín
hours before starting this new and unprecedented adventure - on Sunday he faces
Los Chamos from Venezuela
in the first Split (as the season that includes a regular phase and Playoffs is called), which will be in Mexico City -, in which he took the opportunity to review his life and revealed how he plans to combine those passions.
"In my role as president, until now I have been in charge of choosing the technical director and the creative part behind Muchachos
," said Freixas, who opted for the experience of Argentine Ricardo La Volpe, a World Cup player with Mexico and a long history in the country. Aztec.
And he justified his choice:
"It seemed to me that he had a lot of presence, apart from being very recognized in Mexico and Argentina. I liked his media personality
. "
The format of the Kings League allows that, in each squad of 12 players, the last two are footballers or former professional footballers.
His network of contacts allowed Freixas to reach some important figures such as
Maximiliano Rodríguez
, with whom he has had a very good relationship for years and even invited him to his farewell match in Rosario,
Javier Mascherano
and...
a certain Lionel Messi
.
Other players that the influencer dreams of are the Brazilian
Kaká
or the Costa Rican
Bryan Ruiz
.
"Obviously I dream about Messi, I know it's very difficult, but I dream about it. What's more, the number 10 shirt isn't going to be there, we're saving it for Leo, no one is going to have it,"
confided the 39-year-old actor, who with the performance went around the world and he even met the Spanish
Andrés Iniesta
, one of his idols.
Jero Freixas and Andrés Iniesta at the Spaniard's farewell.
(CC2)
But not everything is related to football from now on, but he still has to continue with his acting obligations: "Last year I was in La Gran Vía, Madrid, with Jose, my wife, which was crazy, I acted in Barcelona, We did a tour with our theater show and that was fulfilling dreams and obviously the dream of acting on Broadway is there.
Also acting in a film with Ricardo Darín or being directed by Juan José Campanela, they are dreams for which I go, because they are to be fulfilled and I am going to work to be able to achieve them.”
The anecdote when he played with Messi
There was a special moment during 2023 for this man who describes himself as a sensitive, warm-hearted person, with a lot of character and passionate about his work, in addition to being a very family-oriented man.
He fulfilled the dream that many long for, but that very few can make come true:
playing with Lionel Andrés Messi
.
It was at Maxi Rodríguez's tribute match at the Newell's stadium and, from a distance, he recalled:
"The truth is that when I shared the court with the best in the world, I couldn't understand it, I still can't believe it
. "
See this post on Instagram
A post shared by jerofreixas (@jerofreixas)
"I was very nervous, I realized when I was on the field, when Messi passed me the ball, the ball took a long time, it took a long time, I thought I was not going to reach it. I remember a lot of that run because he threw it to me to run I remember a lot, I'm not going to forget me running for that ball anymore. First I know how to pass it to Leo, when it reaches his feet I say 'well, you holed it at his feet', but I never imagined that I would hit it to return and he returns it to me. So when I run to that ball, the only thing that was going through my head was 'you have to get to that ball because if you get to that ball you are going to make a wall with Messi and you are going to tell it to your friends.' grandchildren tomorrow, so get to that ball,'”
he explained.
“When I arrived, I passed it quickly so they wouldn't take it from me and I said that's it, I'm done with this.
It was crazy, I left everything.
In that game I left everything, I ran like crazy, I was dying, my lungs and legs couldn't give me any more.
Coloccini told me 'Jero, you actually play as a 4' and I was up there, I wanted to play with Messi, Di María, Maxi and I told him 'bench, leave me here' and he told me 'Leave it, maybe you're of no use to me here, go over there '.
It was truly impressive, one of the most incredible experiences of my life," he concluded.
How is the Kings League America played?
The Kings League is a 7-a-side soccer tournament, with rules that make it distinctive and that attract the attention of fans, mainly due to the addition of streamers as presidents of each franchise.
The America edition is made up of 12 teams and divided into small seasons called splits, which consist of a regular phase and the Playoffs.
Each match consists of two 20-minute halves, with a three-minute break in the middle.
The rules were chosen by fans through social networks, based on the experience of the Spanish edition, which has already been disputed for a couple of years.
The laterals are with the hand and the corners with the feet.
There is a forward position like in soccer, despite the fact that the field is smaller in size.
Starting in the 18th minute, a dice is thrown that removes players from the field of play and the last 120 seconds are played under the 'double goal'.
The 12 participants of this first edition are: Muchachos FC (Argentina), Atlético Parceros FC (Colombia), Club de Cuervos (Mexico), Galácticos del Caribe (Dominican Republic), Los Aliens FC (United States), Los Chamos FC (Venezuela ), Olimpo United (Mexico and with
Javier
Chicharito
Hernández
as president), Peluche Caligari (Mexico), Santamaría CF (Peru), Raniza FC (Mexico and Uruguay), Real Titán FC (Chile) and West Santos FC (Colombia and Puerto Rico ).