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“I traveled to speak to Atlas to bring his technician to Colo Colo” That is the phrase with which Jorge Vergara, former leader of the Albo team, claims to have had an advanced negotiation with Marcelo Bielsa during 1994. The situation occurred long before the Argentine passed through the Red. A particular story that we remember in days of quarantine.
“Bielsa had arranged with Colo Colo the year that Gustavo Benítez arrived. I spent several days at his house. ‘Jorge said to me, I really want to go to Chile. Obviously I’m interested in going to Colo Colo, but I have a signed link and I want to go out the door. ’ He asked me to speak to the president of Atlas, “recalls Vergara.
– And what did Atlas say to him?
– I went to a dinner with the people from Atlas, we touched on the subject and they told me that they were very grateful that we looked at their coach. Bielsa treated me very well at home and days later, the president called me again to tell me that the club rejected Bielsa’s departure. When I was coming back to Chile, I had to see a second possibility and I went for the Paraguayan Gustavo Benítez.
– When did you meet Bielsa?
– The year 1985. The president of Newell’s invited me to Rosario to talk about soccer. Several leaders got together. I stayed like a month there, and there I met Bielsa who had left football a few years ago. I think that time I just greeted him. But then they invited me again, and I found that Bielsa was already a technician. We agreed to do the preseason together, in the Mendoza Harvest Cup.
– Then Bielsa went to Chile …
– Of course, we invited him that same year, when Colo Colo inaugurated the lights of the Monumental. He was here and then he always traveled. We became very close, also due to a computer and database issue that I handled. Mirko (Jozic) explained to Bielsa what his scheme was like, and I participated as a toad (laugh).
– Did you keep in touch with him?
– I always had low profile contact with Bielsa. I know what he is like and I respect his silence. When I need to talk to him, I have a phone from his secretary and she contacts Bielsa without problem.
