From Rutgers Newark D3 to training with players from Madrid Lyon Boca junior Academy.

Making the Jump

The football world during a transfer window? Pure chaos. That's where I found myself, a D3 player from Rutgers-Newark, jumping into the European Football. After four years plagued by injuries – strained ankles, pulled hamstrings, the dreaded plantar fasciitis – I was like Dembele at Barcelona. Seventy-five percent of my college career was spent on the sidelines. I never found a rhythm on the field. Coaches always say the best ability is availability, and I was anything but. My New Year's resolution was simple: be pain-free. Forget getting better, faster, or smarter; I just wanted to play without wincing. And I did it. I locked in, rehabbed, and finally, the pain was gone.

Then, COVID hit. The world, and football with it, ground to a halt. While everything was on pause, I kept training, pushing myself as best as I could. One day, a DM from a friend opened an opportunity in Spain. I leaped at it, sorting out the details and booking a flight before I could overthink it. The plan was to trial with a 5th or 6th division team, but when I arrived, my agent dropped a plot twist: "You have a trial with Las Rozas, a 4th division team." Las Rozas? I knew nothing about them. Honestly, I hadn't done much research; I just wanted to play. I walked into the training ground, and the coach introduced himself. Didn't expect to see anyone I use to watch on TV. It was Ivan Helguera, the ex-Real Madrid captain.

As we warmed up, one of the players asked where I was from and where I'd played. I chuckled, knowing he wouldn't recognize Rutgers-Newark. "College ball in the US," I replied, asking his name in return. But as the small-sided games started, reality set in. I wasn't making the impact I needed to. As a foreign player, you have to stand out, and I wasn't. No chance of getting signed, I thought. But here's the thing: I could hang with these guys. That realization, right there on the pitch, was a huge confidence boost, especially after I learned about their backgrounds. And these backgrounds were first class.

Surround by Players from Top Academies

Later, I discovered that the players around me weren't just any 4th division players. They were from the academies of giants: Madrid, Sevilla Atletico, Boca Juniors, Lyon. Back in my room after training I tried to do some research on the team and players. I found the player who'd asked me about my background on Instagram. He was a former Real Madrid B player and had trained with the first team! A few more clicks, and I found others. They'd all come from Madrid's B team to Las Rozas. These guys had pictures with Ronaldo, Kroos, Marcelo!

Then, two Boca Juniors players arrived for a trial. So there I was, a kid from Rutgers-Newark, surrounded by academy players from Madrid, Betis, Mallorca, Boca Juniors, and Lyon. It was surreal. I'd never enjoyed a week of football more. Being in that environment, surrounded by that level of talent, was incredible. But it also taught me something crucial: these guys are human. There's no need to be intimidated, though I know nerves are a real struggle for many.

Pressure is created in the mind

If I could offer any advice, it would be this: seek out every trial you can. If there are none near you, expose yourself to different playing styles. Being from Jersey, I was lucky. You can find leagues from almost every country in the world there. Each has its unique style, and I truly believe that my experience with that diversity helped me in Spain. I was used to being the outsider, used to adapting.

In the end, it doesn't matter if you play Sunday league, semi-pro, or pro. You're playing against humans who bleed just like you do. The ball is still a size 5, the goals are still 24 ft by 8 ft, and the pressure? That's all in your head. My week in Spain, surrounded by players from football's elite academies, taught me that more than anything.