Carlos Roa: ‘I said no to United, I put God above football – Greeks are like Argentinians’

The goalkeeper coach and a member of its technical staff gave an interview to “AS” AEK, Carlos Roa.

The veteran Argentinian footballer spoke about the period when refused the offer of Manchester United and retired from football in order to dedicate himself to God, but also for the difficult period after the diagnosis that he had testicular cancer.

At the same time, he also focused on the similarities between the Greeks and the Argentines, saying, among other things: “Mythey are very passionate. They are very passionate and very fanatical».

First, about her proposal Unitedstated: “After the 1998 World Cup in Argentina I was a national hero. I said no. My choice was to stop playing football. It was a thoughtful decision. Strange to most people, but I thought about it very carefully and chose to live a life of self-sacrifice and service to others and preach what the Bible says. I put God above football. It was what I felt. I wanted to experience other things and serve others. The biblical seventh day, which is the Sabbath, was not respected, because God commands that we dedicate that day to have full communion with him and to live it peacefully with the family. Playing that day I had to put other values ​​above what my mind and heart dictated» and continued:

“I used to think about it. A lot of people told me I was crazy, but I had the support of my wife and I didn’t need more. Nine months later I returned. It was also a matter of conscience, as was my withdrawal. I felt like I had to play, I craved it. When I was little I wanted to be a war pilot and I didn’t dream of being a football player, but I started to like football and I wanted to be the best. I have lived a lifetime striving to excel in my profession».

For the time he spent with her adventure of his health, emphasized that: “I got to thinking negative thoughts. Testicular cancer back then was not like it is now. It was hard to adjust. I lived a regular life, with a healthy diet. I was back in football. It was a very painful time for me and my family. Fortunately, I was able to overcome it. My doctor said I was lucky”, while he closed about his experience in Hellas:

“The Greeks are very similar in passion to the Argentinians. They are very passionate and very fanatical. The environment of the flares, the flags and everything created around the games amazed me. Everything that involves a football match is very intense».