Among the five Argentines of Orenburg football, Vera was the brightest in every sense. His boldly colored hairstyles and equally bold and inventive style of play made him stand out on the field. Every six months in Russia, Lucas was escorted to a major club. They were called Dynamo, Lokomotiv, and even Zenith. It was even more surprising to find him in the “near Zamkadye” – in Khimki. We started the conversation with the topic of transfer.
“If I had moved to Lokomotiv, they would also say that I chose money.”
— Your move surprised many: Khimki is not among the best yet. Can you explain your choice? — During the holidays, Frank (Artiga is the Khimki coach) called me and said that he would like to see me on his team. We had several conversations and in the end he convinced me to move to Khimki. The coach’s personal interest played a decisive role in my choice.
—Did you know each other before? — No, I learned about him through my work at Rodina. We met in Khimki.
Frank Artiga and Lucas Vera
Photo: fckhimki.com
– Why were you so interested? “He said that his system of play requires a player of my profile who can move the ball forward. I spoke with the leaders of both clubs and decided to accept this offer. Fortunately, the parties agreed on everything and the transition took place.
– But do you understand what people thought: everything is clear, I chose money? – This is normal in the world of football. If I had moved to Lokomotiv, they would have said the same thing. However, I was attracted not only by the financial aspect, but also by other things.
—But the financial aspect is important, isn’t it? — Yes, of course, but the sporting component is no less important. I consider the move to Khimki to be a step forward in my career. This is an opportunity to experience new emotions, live in Moscow, train and play on natural grass and withstand competition from new partners. All this together predetermined my choice.
— Did the artificial pitch in Orenburg give you any problems? – No, in Orenburg we constantly trained on synthetic materials and I quickly got used to it. But it is still more pleasant to play on natural grass.
“Orenburg” did not want to sell me to either “Dynamo” or “Loko”
— Did you really have an offer from Lokomotiv? – Yes, I spoke with the Loko coach. He was also interested in me. But as far as I understand, Orenburg did not accept Lokomotiv’s offer. It was the club’s decision.
— Were you disappointed? — I may not agree with some things, but I had a contract with Orenburg and it should have been fulfilled. The club needed me and I am glad that in the end we have achieved the main goal of the season: to bring Orenburg into the Premier League. This is very important for the club and the city.
— Was there any basis for the rumours about Dynamo and Zenit? — There was an offer from Dynamo after my first season in Russia. But Orenburg did not want to sell me. The club counted on me a lot and I felt comfortable there. I would like to express my gratitude to Orenburg for the trust I felt there during these two years.
—And Zenit? — I heard about contacts between clubs in this regard, but I didn’t worry, I tried to concentrate on my game. There are things that don’t depend on you.
– But admit it: would you like to be in such a big club? – Everyone would like to. And this applies not only to Zenit, but also to other top teams. Playing for top clubs is a natural desire of a professional footballer. I am no exception.
— Were there any other offers this summer? — There were talks, but my priority was to stay in the Russian Championship. In two years in Orenburg I got to know the country and the league well. I still need some time to get used to the new team and show what I can do.
Lucas Vera vs. Quincy Promes
Photo: Dmitry Golubovich, “Championship”
“Now I can order meat or chicken in a restaurant without an interpreter”
— I think you were really looking forward to playing in the Cup with Orenburg. Didn’t you ask the coach to let you in at least as a substitute? – No. I felt fine, but the coach decided to give several players the opportunity to recover before Saturday’s match in Kazan.
– Were you upset? – You’re welcome. A short break to recover after the first two rounds was not unnecessary.
— Have you at least talked to your friends in Orenburg? – Yes, for sure. We are constantly in contact and not just during the matches. I still have excellent relationships with all the guys.
Lucas Vera with former teammates
Photo: Khimki press service.
— They didn’t feel offended by you for leaving Orenburg? – Not at all. On the contrary, they were happy for me and wished me all the best in Khimki. Of course, I was a little sad to leave the boys, but a new stage in my career has begun and I am enjoying it very much.
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Spartak is not so well known abroad, Zenit is more popular. Interview with the hero of the 1st round of the RPL.
—Are you satisfied with everything in Russia? – Yes, I feel comfortable in your country. My family feels at ease here. For me, this is the most important thing.
— What are your first impressions of the new team? – Very good. I like everything, both the club and the team. The coach and the boys help me adapt to Khimki as quickly as possible.
— You have it clear with the coach, but how do you communicate with your teammates? – We have a translator. And I already understand some Russian – after all, this is my third year in the country.
— Do you use any online translators in shops and restaurants? – Sometimes it helps, sometimes it doesn’t. I can order meat or chicken in a restaurant without an interpreter.
— Do you know what your last name means in Russian? — Yes, yes, they told me about it in Orenburg.
—Does anyone on the team, apart from Artiga, speak Spanish? — When I first arrived, none of the guys spoke Spanish. But we have a good translator, which helps a lot in communication. The language barrier doesn’t bother me. Now Fariña from Panama has joined the team, and defender Fernández will come and have someone to chat with in Spanish.
lucas vera
Photo: fckhimki.com
— What is it like working with Denis Glushakov? – Excellent. He is one of the most experienced and communicative people in the team and often gives me some advice. An incredibly positive guy – he smiles and laughs all the time. For the microclimate of the team, the presence of such a person is very important.
— What kind of football does the Spanish coach play at Khimki? — Frank wants us to show fighting qualities and try to dominate the field. The coach believes that Khimki is capable of achieving results offensively and I really like this approach. We still need time to fully assimilate their needs and play together. I hope that with each match we can do better and better.
—Isn’t that too risky a concept for a team that has just left the First Division? — Yes, last season the team was in second division. [по силе] division, and we all met recently. Therefore, the result is now a priority. We need to try to get as many points as possible in the first part of the Championship to be calm in the spring.
“In Moscow the level of security is higher than in Buenos Aires”
— What do you think of Moscow? – Good. I have been here many times in Orenburg. I am sure that I will still discover new interesting places in Moscow. But I settled in Khimki, not far from the stadium. It is quiet and peaceful here. Everything suits me.
— Is there anything surprising in Russia? – No surprises. I’ve already studied your country quite a bit in two years.
— Are you also used to the pace of life and traffic? – And I don’t go anywhere much. I feel comfortable and cozy in Khimki.
— Can Moscow and Buenos Aires be compared? – They are a bit similar. These two cities never seem to sleep. But in Moscow the level of security is higher than in Buenos Aires. Unfortunately, this is a big problem for Argentina today.
“Barko is capable of becoming the new star of Spartak and the entire RPL”
— What are your impressions of the first match of the season with Spartak? “We had a great first half, but we failed to capitalise on our chances and conceded a goal very early after the break. It was a bit of a shock. Spartak took advantage of our confusion and doubled the score. After such a double blow, it was very difficult to get back into the game.
Lucas Vera in the match against Spartak
Photo: fckhimki.com
—Do you also think that the referee “stole” your voice? – I don’t know. I don’t like to talk about referees. It’s not just the referees who make mistakes, the players too. We need to understand ourselves. The disallowed goal certainly influenced the course of the match, but I can’t say that the referee “robbed” us. Even after watching the replay, I didn’t have a clear opinion on whether there was a foul or not. The referee was close to the episode, but he disallowed the goal only after the VAR warned and watched the replay.
Ugalde and Barco’s first goals for Spartak, Stankovic’s first win in Russia:
An ideal debut for a Spartak newcomer! He did what no one at the club could do for three years
—Do you know Ezequiel Barco? – Yes, we crossed paths on the pitch several times when he played for River, and I played for Huracán and Lanús. It was already clear that he was a great footballer with all the qualities needed to play at the highest level. Now he has taken the next big step in his career.
— Can Barko become Spartak’s new star? – Absolutely. He has already proven it with us: he played almost the entire match and did a lot of useful things on the pitch: he interacted well with Ugalde, hit the post and scored a goal. It was very difficult against him. I am sure that Barco will become a star of the Russian championship.
— Barco has already become the 11th Argentine in the RPL. Who else do you know besides your compatriots from Orenburg? —I know Mauro Luna. When he came to Moscow to sign a contract with Akhmat, we met, had dinner and chatted a bit in a restaurant. We saw Barco in the hotel when he had just arrived from Argentina. In Orenburg I played with four compatriots. I know Adolfo Gaich. And Franco Orozco and I were teammates for two years at Lanús.
—Didn’t he ask you for advice before going to Russia? — We talked before his transfer. Orozco asked me about the country and the Russian championship. I assured him that it was safe and that he had nothing to worry about.
— Why is RPL so popular among Argentines? — I wouldn’t say it’s just Argentines. I think there are even more Brazilians in the Premier League. In general, there are a lot of kids from the United States. Ugalde and Himmi Marín are from Costa Rica, Justin Cuero is from Ecuador and Fariña has just arrived from Panama.
— Can you compare the championships in Argentina and Russia? — There are more local players in Argentina, but the championship is of a fairly high level, there is very serious competition in the fight for the title. Russia also has a strong championship; otherwise, so many great foreigners would not come here.
—Where do they pay more? – In Argentina, two big clubs pay more than others: Boca and River. In other teams, the conditions are quite modest. Clubs are forced to sell their best players abroad, including Russia.
Lucas Vera in the match against Spartak
Photo: fckhimki.com
— Are there differences between people? “You can see the differences in the stadium. In Argentina, fans can sing, dance and jump in the stands for the entire 90 minutes. In Russia, people behave more reservedly. And on the football field, both Russians and Argentines are unbreakable fighters.
—Would you like to play in Europe after Russia? – Certainly. I think Russia is a great showcase for footballers. There is a competitive and high-quality championship here. I think that a decent match for Khimki will bring me closer to realizing this dream. I am happy with everything in Russia now and in the future I would not mind trying out in Spain. Of the European leagues, this league is my favorite.
“I got my first tattoo when I was 14. My parents almost killed me!”
— Explain why you posted a video with a cigarette on social media? “I had two days off and I allowed myself to relax a bit. I didn’t think I would cause such a fuss. Although there was nothing special there. Many people allow themselves to do such things in their free time. But people are demanding of footballers and we must be prepared for that.
— Wasn’t this why they sent you to Orenburg? – No, we talked to Dima (Andreev, sports director of Orenburg. – Note from the Championship). I told him that on a day off, being away from the club, I have the right to rest a little. I think he understood me, but he advised me to avoid such situations in the future. There were no problems.
– How many tattoos do you have? – I don’t know. A lot, haha! Every time I come to Argentina I go get a new tattoo. I’ve lost count of how many there are.
—At what age did you make your first one? — When I was 14, I developed a tiger face on my back.
—How did your parents react? – They almost killed me, ha ha! They said: boy, schoolboy, you’re not even a professional football player yet. Of course they didn’t like it. But I had to accept it.
— Do you dye your hair often? — I like to stand out, have fun and create a positive environment around me. Standing out is one of the ways to cheer yourself up and those around you. When I go back to Argentina I go to my colorist friend’s salon. I love to experiment and I’ve already tried many colors: white, blue, purple, pink.
lucas vera
Photo by: RIA Novosti
—What color will you paint yourself next time? – I haven’t figured it out yet. Maybe in grey.
