The "Granitico" could not sing the national anthem on Spanish soil, as a few months before our participation he suffered a "Achilles tendon" rupture. At that time, the fans also suffered an unexpected and disconcerting blow.
Although the "Great Captain of the 20th century", unlike the "Predator", already had the 1970 and 1978 World Cups behind him, he would have fulfilled the enviable experience of playing in three World Cups - a merit that Teofilo Cubillas has, for example- as well as inspiring the great team that achieved qualification in 1981.
Everything happened on December 20, 1981, when "Chumpi", during the match between Sporting Cristal (his team) and Bolognesi de Tacna, collided with player Jose "Camote" Vasquez, falling to the ground in acute pain.
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He was attended by the club doctor, who, upon observing the severity of the injury, ordered his immediate hospitalization. There, the doctors gave the worst of news. Surgery was necessary, and the recovery would take more than six months, cutting "Chumpi's" -37-year-old- aspirations to play in the World Cup tournament that started in June 1982. Vásquez always maintained that he did not have contact with the great captain because he respected him greatly.
Whether it was destiny or an unintentionally strong play - or some other reason - the fact is that Chumpitaz's presence on Iberian courts was truncated. He was replaced by Salvador Salguero, a defender of similar physical dimensions who played for Alianza Lima.