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The story of Adrián Embarba (11th April, 2017)

Football is cruel. Hype is often wrong. And history forgets quickly.

It's easy to forget that Embarba was the least heralded of three signings for Rayo B in 2013. Miki Ruiz was a striker heralded for his pace and strength, his finishing and his shot power. He was from Córdoba, he was ex-FC Barcelona, ex-Real Madrid, ex-Valencia and ex-Hércules, and he had already played for the U-20 Spain team, alongside Jesé Rodríguez and Derik Osede.

He, at just 19, had a bright future ahead of him.

So did Sergio Parla, ex-Getafe, ex-Real Madrid and ex-Alcobendas. The 21 year old center-back, whose ball-playing skills and pace made him a perfect Rayo defender. His future was bright too - sharing hydrotherapy pools with Ronaldo and, despite a torrid time with Alcobedas, his ability meant regular appearances for the first team.

Embarba? Released by Real Madrid, then by RSD Alcalá, then by Getafe, he made his debut for Marchamalo in 2011, then played next season with Carabanchel. Yes, out of the players signed from the historic Hércules, the well-known Alcobendas and what's-that-again Carabanchel, it was the last one that made it.

The others will be forgotten quickly - Miki Ruiz would go on to play for Girona B, Lucena, and Cacereño (for whom he signed in January 2017), while Parla went back to Alcobendas in 2015 and in January 2017 joined Rayo Majadahonda. Even Embarba's second cousin, who joined Rayo from Atlético Madrid and became the club's youngest player ever to appear in an official match (17 years and 140 days, surpassed by 32 days by Joni Montiel) left in 2016 for Fuenlabrada.

What's really sad though is that although Carabanchel is the third oldest club in Madrid, after Real and Atlético of course, it will only be remembered for being part of one La Liga player's history.

One can only hope that there will be more.


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