Athletico 100 years: David Ferreira, the best foreigner

After dismantling the Brazilian champion team, back in 2003, Athletico embarked on a “Colombia connection”, the creator of which was the “scout” Borba Filho. Between good and not so good, almost a dozen players arrived from the neighboring country, but only one star: David Arturo Ferreira Rico.

Ferreira had eaten the ball in América de Cali’s 3-1 victory against Furacão in the 2005 Libertadores group stage, with a goal and two assists. Previously, he had been champion of the 2001 Copa América with Colombia and was already three-time Colombian champion with the scarlet shirt. Ferreira arrived in Curitiba during the 2005 Libertadores finals.

If he had arrived earlier, the story could have been different, as he scored his first two goals in the 4-2 victory against São Paulo, in the Brasileirão, when Tricolor finally faced Caldeirão after escaping in the Liberta finals.

From then on, Ferreira was the main player in the Red and Black midfield between 2005 and 2008, when he made 179 appearances, gave 42 assists and scored another 39 goals. Some are historical, like the last comeback in the epic 6-4 against Vasco in 2006 or Atletiba away from home in 2008.

Four years of unstoppable careers, disconcerting dribbling and absolute delivery from the azougue of Santa Marta, La Perla de América, the oldest city in Colombia. It was there where the liberator of America, Simon Bolívar, died, very close to the city of Aracataca, inspiration for the classic “One Hundred Years of Solitude”, by Gabriel José García Márquez.

Ferreira didn’t win titles, but he was decisive in the push that ensured their stay in Serie A in 2009. He then went to play for Dallas, Athletico’s partner in the USA, and was named the most valuable player in MLS.

With all due respect to Ibarrola, Lucho, Marco Ruben, Canobbio and, mainly, Terans and Aveiros, Ferreira was the foreigner who played the most football with the red and black shirt.