Goa: The Indian Super League (ISL) from its inaugural season has attracted so many Spanish players because of their soothing playing style and the popularity of La Liga among the fans in the country. Jorge Ortiz is among the latest batch to have set foot in a country of 1.3 billion, joining the long list of Spaniards, when he signed for FC Goa.
The 28-year-old winger is quite optimistic about playing well in the tournament after spending all his senior career in Spain. “It was a great chance to take a big step in my career,” Ortiz told to Sportslight Media in an exclusive interview.
“I wanted to experience something different and learn about football outside of Spain. Whatever I have heard about the club, the place, the fans and the league were top-notch. It is going to be a massive challenge to be able to show my talents in this league and I am really looking forward to it.”
.@jorgeortiz92 becomes our latest signing after the Spaniard penned a two-year deal! 🤩
Read more about our new Gaur ➡️ https://t.co/OU67ZAvfhf#JorgeIsAGaur #ForcaGoa pic.twitter.com/xkNakUKYYS
— FC Goa (@FCGoaOfficial) August 6, 2020
A huge fan of Brazilian legend Ronaldinho, Ortiz was born in Villacañas and came through the ranks of Getafe CF ‘s youth setup before making his senior debut for the CD Madridejos in Tercera División.
“I always used to take note of a number of players as a child – almost all were forwards or winger. There are many who I admire, but I remember the impact of Ronaldinho. It was incredible, it was a pleasure to see him play and that was a big draw for me to take up football,” he said.
Thereafter, Ortiz played for numerous clubs in the Spanish lower divisions, a notable stint of which was with the Atletico Madrid B side in 2018. Last season, he played for the CD Atlético Baleares in the Segunda Division B earning 20 caps.
Winners of the ISL League Shield, FC Goa became the first-ever club from India to qualify for the group stages of the AFC Champions League. Ortiz hopes that the side will make most of the opportunity.
“This is a really great opportunity. Not only for the club, but also for India. It’s the first time a club has made it to the group stages of the competition and there will be a lot of eyes on us. We will certainly give our all. But, right now the focus is on the league. And we want to get in the best shape possible during pre-season and get down to business,” added the winger.
Over the years, FC Goa has maintained the Spanish flair like a tradition and this season is no different with the winger hoping to gel with rest of the squad sooner. “It is an advantage that there are so many Spanish players, but everyone has a different way of playing. I will try to play as I have always done and help the team and my teammates with my abilities. With so many Spaniards in the team, it will of course be helpful to settle down. It’s easier to strike a chemistry with the others as we share similar backgrounds,” he added.
Finally, on the growing expectations from the overseas players over the years, Ortiz added, “We all have high expectations, from both foreign and Indian players because at the end of the day, the important thing is that the team ends up achieving its goals and not individual goals.”
