It cannot be denied that DT has always had a strong character and the same goes for the unbalancing and explosive footballer Jhon Vásquez.
Date 3 of the BetPlay League 1-2023 left a goalless draw between Deportivo Cali and Once Caldas, in which those led by Jorge Luis Pinto had several plays to go up and could not unbalance. However, at the press conference there was a moment of tension, when the Santanderean was questioned for not calling John Vásquez.
For those who don’t know, After the friendlies of the ‘sugar’ team against Puerto Cabello from Venezuela, which ended with defeats 1 by 0 and 4 by 1, the version of a strong fight between the DT and the player spread. It was even said that the footballer left the dressing room saying that they would not count on him again.
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This was denied by Pinto himself on the day of the matches, and the player spoke days later to end the rumors. However, for the match against Once Caldas, first official game of the 2023 campaign, Vásquez did not even appear among those called up, increasing rumors about the relationship.
Jorge Luis Pinto was upset because they asked him about Jhon Vásquez, after Cali vs. Once Caldas:
After the aforementioned matches on January 24, journalist Nelson Sandino said the following on the program ‘El Corrillo de Mao’: “John Freduar Vásquez has not been able to control what has to do with his ‘fever’ issues, untimely reactions in his activity as a footballer… The information that reaches me is that he had a meeting with Jorge Luis Pinto, ugly and strong. So much so, that the player decided to leave the Pance headquarters, grabbed his vehicle and drove off.
They tell me that he told him not to count on him anymore… It is something very negative, he is ‘hot’”.
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And on Twitter, the journalist Diego Saviola said that there was a problem, but the resignation in question was not given: “If there was a strong discussion in the dressing room between coach Jorge Luis Pinto and striker Jhon Vásquez, the @AsoDeporCali game ended before Puerto Cabello. But it is not true that the player leaves the team “.
But to deny everything, Pinto gave this striking response after the matches against the Venezuelan team:
“No way. Me, at my years and my age, after traveling so much and after directing 1,250 club games and 175 in national teams. Am I going to start fighting and arguing? No, father, I am no longer for that”.
And on January 31, in the ‘Smoke Free Zone’ space, the footballer expressed that it was all to destabilize the group of players:
“Nothing happened, for Deportivo Cali there are always eyes on it, to create bad information, to create gossip and destabilize the group. Nothing happened… the discomfort was with ourselves, but nothing of the other world that could affect”.
It seemed that the coach was already going to have the skilled player, who was champion with Cali in the BetPlay 2-2021 League. However, for the game against Once Caldas on Sunday, February 5, the name of the man from Cartagena was not on the squad list and at a press conference they asked the coach about the issue and it seems that he did not like the insistence on the issue at all. :
“Why don’t you ask me about the rest of the players who weren’t there? And the other 13? You have to ask me about everyone, because it’s normal, John’s is normal. No no no. He, when he is in perfect condition, good and willing, on a physical and technical level, will go to play. Because he came to play, he is an experienced player. But I like that he also asks me about the others ”.
Beyond the fact that the match was not a defeat for Deportivo Cali and the team showed good form on the field of play, the issue came back to ‘turn on’ and now someone is expected to clarify if John Vásquez will stay in the team or the absence is due to that rumor of leaving for not getting along with Jorge Luis Pinto.