A running joke among Ares Thessaloniki fans in recent days is that "in 2014 to 2016, the current team was competing for winning the Champions League".
The trigger for the joke was the signing of Gerbinho, who in those years was one of Roma's stars and a player who scored two goals for Ivory Coast at the World Cup in Brazil, but it's not just him.
In Aris's squad, you can also find Manu Garcia, who was considered a promise at Manchester City at the time, Andre Gray, who eight years ago tore down nets at Brentford and Burnley from the Championship, the Bosnian Izzet Irovic, who just moved to Werder Bremen and represented Bosnia in the first World Cup in its history, and even a coach who was at his peak that year - Mono Burgos, Diego Simeone's loyal assistant, who in those three years celebrated a championship with Atlético Madrid and was twice European runner-up.
At the top of the list of players who were good in the years in question and evolved over time into Aris is Juan Manuel Itorba.
In the same summer of 2014, after an excellent season at Hellas and Verona, Roma beat several elite teams and signed the 21-year-old winger for 25 million euros.
"We mustn't put pressure on him, he is a tremendous potential," clarified the coach of Giallorossi, Rudy Garcia, who, like many, was sure that he had an unpolished diamond in his hands.
Fast as lightning, with a deadly left and tremendous control of the ball, Itorba was then considered one of the future stars of world football.
He even carried the label "Lao Messi of Paraguay" on his back plus the nickname "Pulguita", the little flea.
He earned the flattering (and unhelpful) comparisons after already at the age of 16 he made his debut in the senior team of Cerro Fortinho and the senior team of Paraguay, he also played in the youth teams of Argentina and at the age of 18 he was sold to Porto.
His career path seemed paved to the top, but Itorba was never able to move straight.
Itorba in action, photo: from Twitter
"willing to work hard"
From the first moment it was clear that the young man demanded a lot.
He was released from Porto after only six games and sent to the Argentinean River Plate, who showed the sparks that sent him back to Europe in the media.
Eight Serie A goals in Verona earned him the prestigious contract in Rome, and it more or less stopped there.
In Italy, all the problems stood out that prevented the great talent from realizing himself.
Itorba did lead the team in fouling, but finished the season with an average of 24.2 assists per game - lower even than goalkeeper Rafael (28.4 assists per game).
In the first season in Rome, he was accurate with only 17% of his kicks on goal, and when injuries entered the story, it was only a matter of time before he lost his place in the lineup, and then in the team.
Itorba celebrates with friends.
Not an easy challenge for Maccabi Tel Aviv,
Indeed, after one season in the Italian capital, Itorba began to wander.
He was loaned to Bournemouth and Torino without success, abandoned Europe and moved to Tijuana, Pumas and Pachuca in Mexico, where he also failed to recreate the days of the past.
A year ago, in a surprising move, he signed with Ares Thessaloniki and said: "I am ready to work hard to achieve great things."
These words, as well as Itorba's resume, excited the fans who welcomed the Paraguayan with open arms.
He finished last season with a goal and an assist in the league, a goal in the cup and nothing more.
The arrival of coach "Mono" Burgos and Gervinho, with whom he collaborated in Rome, may help Itorba realize his potential, and the goal he scored in the previous round against Gomel - a free kick for the connections - was a reminder of what he has in his legs.
Now, all that Maccabi Tel Aviv has to ask is that the Itorba that will appear in front of it tomorrow will be the one from 2022, and not from 2014 to 2016.
were we wrong
We will fix it!
If you found an error in the article, we would appreciate it if you shared it with us
