The midfielder from La Rinconada, Hugo Ortiz, 18 years old, made his debut with Sevilla FC's first team in the first pre-season friendly against Juventud de Torremolinos, held at the Ciudad Deportiva Jesús Navas.
The dream of any child who starts kicking a ball came true on July 10 for Hugo Ortiz Rodríguez, a young midfielder from La Rinconada who debuted with Sevilla FC's first team in the first pre-season friendly. The match, held at the Ciudad Deportiva Jesús Navas, saw the Nervionense team face off against Juventud de Torremolinos, ending in a 1-0 victory for Sevilla.
Hugo, who turned 18 on April 9, entered the field in the 82nd minute, replacing Jesús Cruz, another youth player. His entry onto the pitch was the highlight of a special night for the young footballer, who had already been called up by coach Luis García Plaza for the first pre-season test.
From Esfubasa to Sevilla FC
Before being recruited by Sevilla, Hugo Ortiz trained in the youth categories of Esfubasa, a club in the province of Seville based in the El Castañita neighbourhood that has become a breeding ground for talent. At their facilities, the young player learned the values of hard work and perseverance that have now led him to wear the Sevilla first team's jersey.
The Esfubasa club, led by Antonio Vargas, dedicated an emotional message to the player on their social media after his debut:
“There are dreams that do not arise from chance... they arise from hard work. One day, a boy arrived at the 'Castañita' field wearing a red shirt, with immense hope and a ball at his feet. Today, that same boy has taken a step he will never forget: his debut with Sevilla FC's first team.”The message continued by recalling the club's values and congratulating the player's family:
“Today Hugo debuts... but so do his parents, his coaches, his teammates, and all those who walked alongside him since he was little. May this be just the first chapter of a great story. From Esfubasa to the world.”
A debut with victory
The match, which served as the first pre-season test for Sevilla, was resolved with a penalty goal converted by Migue Sierra, another youth player. The penalty was awarded for a foul on Jesús Cruz, who was precisely the player who made way for Hugo Ortiz in the final moments of the match. The team, led by Luis García Plaza, showed a good performance in preparation for the upcoming season.
For the residents of La Rinconada, Hugo Ortiz's debut is a source of pride and a demonstration that local talent continues to shine in elite football. It is not every day that a young player from the locality makes the leap to the first team of a club of Sevilla FC's stature. The hope now is that this will be the first of many glorious afternoons for the young midfielder, who has already shown that with hard work and dedication, dreams can come true.
The next step for Hugo will be to continue working in training to earn a place in Luis García Plaza's plans for the season starting in August. For now, he has already left his first mark on the first team.
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