Wilmar Cabrera: "Maxi Gómez will be an idol to fans at Mestalla"

Wilmar Cabrera was the headline-grabbing signing for Valencia CF in the summer of 1984, when they brought in the Uruguayan from Colombian side CD Los Millionarios. The former player, who turned out for the club for two seasons, has been watching the adaption of fellow countryman Maxi Gómez with interest.

"I identify with him a lot. I see shades of when I was a footballer," Cabrera told VCF Media. "He's competitive, has a winning mentality and is a fighter. I'm sure that he will succeed at Valencia CF. With his character, he will be an idol to fans at Mestalla."

Asked to pick out Gómez' standout qualities, he said "his personality, how he connects with the fans. He looks for each ball as if it were the last, never backs down from anybody and keeps his emotions on display. That's why the Valencia CF fans love him already."

"They are going to see commitment from him right up until the fianl second, and that's what fans like; besides him being a good footballer, they like to see him run more than anybody else. How many very good players haven't succeeded at Valencia CF because they haven't fought or competed on the pitch? That won't happen with Maxi, and he's showing it game after game."

"He's starting to understand that attacking football goes through Dani Parejo, who is the man who distributes the ball to his teammates. If the team manage to open up the wings and deliver crosses into the box, Maxi Gómez will be grateful. He's a natural predator and shoots every ball that comes to him. I believe in him. I don't know him personally, but I identify with his effort and pride in representing Valencia CF."

Cabrera acknowledges that there is a lot of expectation placed on Gómez in Uruguay.

"He doesn't have it easy. Cavani and Suárez are two giants in Uruguayan football, and strikers who have made and continue to make- history with the national team. Being their understudy requires you to be very alert for the days in which they aren't there, and make the most of the opportunity. We have no doubt that he will be the standout striker for the national team in the future."

(Wilmar Cabrera, bottom left)

Wilmar Cabrera played 67 official games for Valencia CF, in which he scored 28 goals. He has good memories of his time at Mestalla, despite experiencing relegation with the club.

"It was a very, very tough time, but the squad was like a family and we fought everyday to try to lift the team up. I scored goals, but in the second season we weren't able to stay up. It was a shame, but football is cruel sometimes. I felt very bad for the fans at Mestalla," he recalls.

More than three decades on from his departure, Cabrera still follows Valencia CF: "I watch them on television. The last game I saw was the win against Alavés, and also the Champions League game against Ajax, which had a deceptive result. This team needs time for Albert Celades to look for his style, after two years for the club with the same coach. We will have to wait a few months, and I wish him all the luck in the world," concluded the Uruguayan.