Jose Cifuentes probably never imagined he’d have to go via Rangers to be reunited with the man who first discovered him in Ecuador.
The 25-year-old midfielder had a difficult six months in Scotland after arriving late on in the summer window following protracted negotiations with MLS side LAFC.
The whirlwind of the start of the season, combined with something of a culture shock in Scotland, contributed to a disappointing spell for a player who’d starred at the World Cup six months previously.
Now out on loan with Brazilian club Cruzeiro, Jose Cifuentes is set to make an unexpected pit stop back at where it all began in Ecuador.
Jose Cifuentes set for return to Ecuador
The Ecuadorean midfielder came through the ranks at local club Universidad Católica del Ecuador, where his performances earned some big links out of South America.
Even before moving to LAFC, Jose Cifuentes had been linked quite prominently to the likes of Manchester City whilst Old Firm rivals Celtic were also strongly mentioned.
But alas the midfielder moved to LAFC and on to Rangers where, via that loan move at Cruzeiro, Jose Cifuentes will find himself back in Ecuador soon.
This is because the Brazilian side have drawn Cifuentes’ local club in the Copa Sudamericana, with the two teams kicking off the group stages back where it all began for the midfielder.
Ahead of the match – which is set to take place on Thursday 4th April – local outlet KCH FM Radio have been hearing from the Rangers loanee’s former manager.
Quite remarkably, Argentine gaffer Jorge Celico has revealed that the links between himself and Cifuentes run so deep that he was even at his wedding a few months ago.
Ex-boss Jorge Celico lauds Rangers loanee
Speaking ahead of the hotly anticipated match, Celico clearly thinks the world of the Ibrox midfielder who sent him a Cruzeiro shirt when he made the switch to Brazil.
“First I’ll tell you something, before the draw, it must have been about three weeks before the South American Cup draw, a guy comes to the club and asks for me,” said Celico.
“I meet him and he gives me a shirt and tells me this is from José of Cruzeiro. I have his Cruzeiro shirt here at home. He sent it to me three weeks ago. Incredibly, well after the whole draw we had to play against Cruzeiro in the Copa Sudamericana.
“Well, let me tell you that I signed him, I signed him in a trial that I managed at Universidad de Católica. He was always better than the first division of Católica. In my previous role, I was there for eight consecutive years from 2009 to 2017, I tested and scouted players. I was working in the lower divisions, and in one of those trials I found José and from there obviously I incorporated him into the club and we got him a school.
“After only a year in school, Jose Cifuentes was already almost bilingual, because we sent him to a bilingual school nearby. He spoke in English – I don’t forget it – but one day he came and said ‘Sir, today I just gave the English lesson at school’.
“These are small things, but it gives you a lot of joy when you help a footballer in his personal and professional growth.
“So imagine that I know him from there, I was at the wedding, he got married recently. I was at his wedding, he was kind enough to invite me and I was one of the few football people who went.”
Never happened for Cifuentes at Rangers
Whilst it never worked out for Jose Cifuentes at Rangers, it’s clearly been quite an inspiring journey from Ecuador for the midfielder so far.
Now back in South America, given the situation in Glasgow it’s probably for the best for everyone involved and it’s nice to hear this little anecdote from a former coach.
Jorge Celico might now be set to face off against his former student in Jose Cifuentes but it sounds like it’ll be an emotional moment for everyone involved.
The midfielder started his career at Universidad Católica – where Celico is now manager – before leaving for LAFC in 2020 following an extended loan spell at America de Quito.
Jose Cifuentes moved on loan to Cruzeiro in February with the Brazilian side reportedly boasting a £2m option-to-buy with the deal.
