After midnight, remote in hand, the decision is clear. You don’t need to stop at any series or movie application. But he searches for television and is certain that a successive series of scenes await him that deserve to be a multi-faceted movie, action, drama, suspense, and an epic ending. Knowing the solution to that hectic story beforehand doesn’t bother him. Because it is the end of the dream. He is one of its heroes.
On the screen is Racing-River. And he, santiago sosa, The masked man who was a prominent figure in the academy’s victory in qualifying for the Clausura quarter-finals is ready to watch his every move with a critical eye. Ironically, his eyesight was in danger a month before he was the star of an unforgettable victory, one that will last over time.
“There are always things to improve”He’s already meditating in the depths of dawn, drinking yerba mate and watching the classic for the second time, which is what he came to even though logic suggests he won’t play again this year. But far from logic and reason, Sosa gave his life and his heart to serve the present statement yet Quadruple fracture of the right cheekHe suffered on October 22 against Flamengo.
On that agonizing night in Rio de Janeiro, when Marcos Rojo’s elbow caused a serious injury, Sosa battled on the field until the end. In the locker room, on the verge of losing consciousness, he was taken to the hospital and remained under observation. “With one more hit I could have lost the sight in that eye“, revealed Gustavo Costas, impressed by the determination and efforts of the free-agent midfielder to make a comeback.
Sosa returned from Brazil and went to a famous orthopedic company and asked for surgery mask. With his swollen face, he suggested postponing the surgical intervention and facing Flamengo in Avellaneda with this special mask. The risk of irreparable damage was real and the doctors were frank: “You should have surgery”. The surgery was performed on Monday, October 27, two days before the Cup Series was scheduled.
The academy’s exclusion affected Santiago as much as Marcos Rojo’s elbow, which prevented him from playing against the team. Minghao. Mercedes, her place in the world, was her refuge in the days that followed. Despite the always fresh breeze coming from the countryside, about 100 kilometers from Avellaneda, the same question swirled as in the surroundings of El Cilendro: Did the end of the international dream close a circle full of emotions?
To overcome doubts and sadness, one answer: Kostas. Always Costas. In the moment of greatest collective pain, the coach once again injected an adequate dose of energy into the team killing For him. “It’s impossible not to get inspired by Gustavo. He knows better than anyone what racing is about and conveys the emotion. He is a father to many of usSosa described – in TyC Sports – his relationship with the coach: “He speaks to us out of love and that is why one leaves life.”
Santiago Sosa gave everything, and despite all the difficulties, He returned to play 28 days after surgery. For this reason, once the meeting that meant revenge for the racing world was over, Costas bowed to Santiago and hugged him. On the other hand, Marcelo Gallardo, whose second spell at River did not score trophies but has a huge spending on reinforcements: almost US$100 million, has struggled. Leonardo PonzioRiver’s technical secretary for three years, wrote off a midfielder two seasons ago: Santiago Sosa.
“It bothered me when I had a good relationship with someone and he didn’t answer my calls, but if he answered me and told me “You are not in a position to wear a River shirt.” I would respect him. I don’t hold a grudge against him. “More than that, I am grateful to have experienced all this to come to Racing,” the midfielder was honest about the positive outcome resulting from this closed door due to his football hometown.
Sosa doesn’t like to sit still, unless it’s for a good after-dinner meal at rally races or at meetings with his friends. There was a lot of lull in the second half of 2023, when he wasn’t even called up for Atlanta United’s matches. The scene repeated itself: On the weekend, while his teammates traveled to play, he was left alone and deep in thought on the sofa.
“After two or three weeks of sitting on the couch, I said to myself I can’t continue like this. “I have to be ready, because when I get the chance, they won’t wait for me.” clankabout that turning point in USAwhere he arrived in February 2021. For this reason, Santiago began training with his then teammate Thiago Almada as a link. Personal physical trainer: justo en.
I have lived this process as well “A before and after.” Additional training was enhanced by A Change in dietSince he canceled the famous Cola soda (he liked to drink the original version), he reduced his consumption of hamburgers (one of his meals). Weaknesses) and reduced to condition permissible To chocolate. The challenge included finding another place to train with Professor On, as Atlanta United – despite not being considered for matches – had banned him from using the club’s facilities.
“She did not stop pushing, perhaps because standing made her feel worse.“, reflects Los Piojos, his favorite band, in a song that highlights the struggle against adversity and its title is a reflection of what the Racing Captain is finally experiencing today, after never giving up: Good times. Indifferent to fashion trends, and sometimes the focus of some accusations in the locker room due to a strange combination of colors, he has a role model as a reference for the group: Bruno Zucolini.
Together they focused on racing and began their great relationship at River, when it was Bruno who explained the relationship between experienced players and younger players, a group of which Santiago was part. “Zuko is the best mate ever.” I identified it at the beginning of this year. He also quickly established contact with the elder Zuccolini, and Franco, the former midfielder and current team manager of the team. The brothers who trained under Tita Mattiusi’s estate, like Kostas, radiate the racing DNA that Sosa has also acquired.
Maybe that’s why, even though it may seem like a joke, there are those in the club halls who think it wouldn’t be unreasonable to make a simple modification to the mask and turn it light blue and white. What many of those who know and know him are certain of is this Sosa will be the coach. He pays attention to details, as in the early morning after the victory over River. He gets used to staying up after every match and notices it more than once.
In order to correct positional errors, hone different aspects and see how much he has improved, he is one of the first to look closely at videos of individual performances given by Federico Anastasi and Alejandro Fusario, the team’s video analysts. He feels like a ‘dagger’ with every goal they score against Racing, even more so if he has to play as a free agent.
“For me, playing as a free agent was easy, because when I went to the MLS, it required me to do that (Gabriel) Haynes. The first time he called me he said: ‘Look, I want you to play libero.’ I know you’re 5, and you played as 8, but I want you to be a free agent. In those first six months at Atlanta United, he taught me a lot of things: how to position myself, when to come in and when to leave, when to be extra, when to go beyond 5.
In addition to studying games and graduating as one of the most beloved people among the academy fans, He had promised to return to university studies After winning the Copa Sudamericana Cup. When he signed his first professional contract with River, he was studying to become a public accountant, but then dropped his degree. The attempt to return to the classroom (in this case virtually) arose primarily for a reason beyond the diploma: it was for his son’s health. dadWhat is it Diabetes.
“He told me that if I went back to school, he wouldn’t drink soda for a year, which is very important for his health.” Santiago was revealed at the end of November 2024. He is the son of a civil engineer father and a lawyer mother, and the Racing captain now gives priority to developing his sports career, in which he is experiencing his best moments. Under contract until December 2029, the midfielder knows that his outstanding performances, intelligence and versatility can captivate teams from abroad.
At 26 years old, His dream is to play in Europe at some point. Kostas, who calls his players on vacation to remind them how much he values them and wants to keep them, took a stand — on ESPN — regarding a potential proposal from Santiago: “I want him to stay and live at Racing,” “It’s very important for us, but his dream is to go to Europe, and if the offer comes I can’t rule him out of his career.”
“I’m very comfortable here, but we’ll see what happens at the end of the year,” the captain said before the next pass book. His response alerted fans who expressed their gratitude and admiration on social media for the way he handled the classic clash with River. His photo with the mask joins the gallery of featured photos.
On February 9, 2020, when Racing played the entire second half with nine men and won an unforgettable classic 1-0 against Independiente, Nery Domínguez faced the final stage of the match with a dislocated shoulder and a turban on his head, due to a cut that left his shirt stained with blood. Marcelo Diaz ate a banana midway through the match and scored the goal.
The postcard of Sosa with the mask winning every split ball like there’s no tomorrow will transcend time. He will remain in the album of enjoyable and emotional memories of Racing de Costas. An artist without a mask that radiates emotion is a fake Masked superhero.