What I Learned From Sitting With a Future Pro in a Small Argentinian Restaurant in Spain
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What I Learned From Sitting With a Future Pro in a Small Argentinian Restaurant in Spain
A few years ago I was sitting in this small Argentinian restaurant in Valencia, Spain. And this was back when I was trying to go pro and I was with other players trying to do the same thing. The owner came up to us – he saw we were in football gear and he just started talking to us about football.
He told us his story. He told us that André Gomes frequently visits his restaurant from Barcelona. “He’s a very nice guy, very quiet, and very broken,” the owner said. He added that the media were absolutely killing him and the pressure was unbearable.
And then he put him on FaceTime so we could talk for thirty seconds. Just a short conversation. But the impact stayed with me.
Here was a player at the pinnacle of European football, and yet he hated his environment. He was drowning. And that’s the side of football most people don’t see.
Why the Movie “Whiplash” Triggered This Memory
The idea for this blog came to me while watching the film Whiplash. If you haven’t seen it yet, go watch it. It’s about obsession and what it takes to reach elite.
I lived something very similar. At 17 I had a coach who was obsessive, ruthless, and utterly focused on standard. He pushed me to the edge. I was training eight hours a day, travelling long hours, away from home, broken physically and mentally. I despised him at the time.
He never said “good job”. He never praised. I remember scoring three goals and waiting for validation from my dad—and he told me, “You could have had four. Your stamina let you down.” That moment stuck.
And you know what? He was right.
The Moment When Ego Gets Blown Apart
After that season in Spain I came back a different person. My ego was shredded. My identity as “the good kid” or “the talented kid” didn’t exist anymore.
There’s a moment athletes hit: you’ve nearly made it, but you realise you’re further from the top than ever. You see what greatness actually costs. And you either commit fully to the change—or you stay where you are.
Most players, when they see that cost, turn back. They pretend they’re still chasing their dream but internally they’re done.
Neutrality: The Hidden Super‑Power
Here’s the thing: once you’ve walked through the fire, one of the greatest skills you can develop is neutrality.
When someone praises you? Neutral.
When someone criticises you? Neutral.
Everything becomes data. Noise.
Because both praise and criticism take you away from your focus. They distract you from the job. And that is how elite work: you keep going, unaffected.
What This Means For You
If you’re an aspiring footballer reading this, these are the lessons:
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Don’t chase validation. Validation is the enemy of consistent growth.
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Embrace discomfort. The moment you feel safe is when you stop improving.
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Exposure matters. Putting yourself in higher‑stakes environments changes you.
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Focus on the process, not the outcome. The contract, the trial, the praise—they’re all by‑products.
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Learn to be neutral. Trust your work. Ignore the external noise.
Final Thoughts
Sitting in that little restaurant in Valencia taught me something I still carry today.
Even the guys at the top of the game feel broken sometimes. They struggle. They’re human. And it’s not about talent alone—it’s about what you’re willing to sacrifice, how you rebuild after being broken, and how you train your mental game when no one’s watching.
If you’re serious about your football, perfect your habits, your mindset, your ability to keep going when things hurt. Because everyone has talent. Very few have the mental resilience to turn that talent into something real.
If this resonates with you and you’re ready for the next step, I’m here. We’ll talk truth. We’ll build a plan. And if I believe in you—I’ll back you.