Jero Freixas jumps from goals to football and makes his debut as president of a Kings League club: “Let’s save the ’10’ for Lionel Messi”

Next weekend, Argentine football will celebrate the long-awaited date of the La Liga classics. Professional League Cupwith the River-Boca as a stellar protagonist. But, several kilometers away, there will be another Albiceleste illusion who will take his first step. FC boysthe only Argentine team among the 12 that will participate in the first edition of League of American Kingswill make its debut in the presence of its president, influencer and actor Girolamo Freixas.

Football and acting are two areas Freixas is passionate about. His media figure was enhanced by the pandemic and his speeches in the car that multiplied laughter on social media reached even the Argentine national team players themselves, who took him as one of their favorites. This also pushed his devotion to Lionel Messiwhich has a special place in this new project within the creation of Gerard Piquewhich arrives in America after its success in Spain.

He spoke to Freixas Clarion hours before starting this new and unprecedented adventure – which he will face on Sunday The Chamos of Venezuela in the first Split (this is what the season that includes the regular phase and Playoffs is called), which will take place in Mexico City -, in which he took the opportunity to retrace his life and reveal how he intends to combine those passions.

“In my role as president, so far I have been responsible for choosing the technical director and the creative part of Muchachos”said Freixas, who opted for the experience of the Argentine Ricardo La Volpe, World Cup player with Mexico and historic player of the Aztec country.

And he justified his choice: “It seemed to me that he had a lot of presence, as well as being very recognized in Mexico and Argentina. I liked his media personality”.

The Kings League format requires that, in each team of 12 players, the final two are current or former professional footballers. His network of contacts has allowed Freixas to reach some important figures such as Massimiliano Rodriguezwith whom he has had an excellent relationship for years and even invited him to his farewell party in Rosario, Javier Mascherano AND… a certain Lionel Messi. Another player dreamed of by the influencer is the Brazilian Kaka or Costa Rican Bryan Ruiz.

“Obviously I dream of Messi, I know it’s very difficult, but I dream of him. Plus the number 10 shirt won’t be there, we’ll keep it for Leo, nobody will have it”confided the 39-year-old actor, who has toured the world with his performance and also learned Spanish Andres Iniestaone of his idols.

But from now on not everything will be related to football, but he will still have to continue with his obligations as an actor: “Last year I was in La Gran Vía, in Madrid, with Jose, my wife, which was crazy, I acted in Barcelona, ​​we toured with our theater show and that made our dreams come true and obviously the dream of acting on Broadway is there. Even acting in a film with Ricardo Darín or being directed by Juan José Campanela, are dreams that I go to, because they are about to come true and I will work to be able to make them come true.

The anecdote from when he played with Messi

There was a special moment in 2023 for this man who describes himself as a sensitive, kind-hearted person, with a lot of character and passionate about his work, as well as being a very family-oriented man. It’s that he realized the dream that many desire, but which very few manage to realize: playing with Lionel Andrés Messi.

It was during the tribute match to Maxi Rodríguez at Newell’s stadium and, from afar, he remembered: “The truth is that when I shared the pitch with the best in the world, I couldn’t understand it, I still can’t believe it”.

“I was very nervous, I realized it when I was on the pitch, when Messi passed the ball to me, the ball took a long time, it took a long time, I thought I wouldn’t reach it. I remember that run a lot because he threw it to me to run, I remember a lot, I will never forget running for that ball, first I know how to pass it to Leo, when it gets to his feet I say “well, you” punctured it at his feet”, but I would never figured I would hit it to give it back and he gives it back to me. So when I run towards that ball, the only thing that was going through my head was ‘you have to get to that one because if you get to that ball you will wall up Messi and tell your friends about it.’ Grandchildren tomorrow, so go to that ball’”He explained.

“When I got there, I quickly passed it so they wouldn’t take it from me and I said enough, I’m done with this thing. It was crazy, I left everything. In that match I left everything, I ran like crazy, I was dying, my lungs and legs were no longer working. 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, maybe’ you are not useful to me here, go 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 football tournament, with rules that make it distinctive and that attract the attention of fans, especially 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 halves of 20 minutes each, with a three-minute break in the middle. The rules were chosen by fans via social networks, based on the experience of the Spanish edition, which has already been contested for a couple of years.

The laterals are with the hand and the corners with the feet. There is a forward position like in football, although the field is smaller in size. Starting from the 18th minute, a die is thrown which removes the players from the playing field and the last 120 seconds are played under the ‘double goal’.

The 12 participants in 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 con Javier Chicharito Hernandez 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).