Between 1985 and 1989, Ricardo Gareca scored 57 goals in 118 matches wearing the América de Cali jersey. He was the top scorer of the tournament in 1987. A year earlier, the war between the cartels of Cali and Medellin, with Pablo Escobar leading the latter, had just begun.
The current coach of the Peruvian National Team, at that time a player for the 'Diablos Rojos', was on the hit list of one of the most famous drug traffickers in history. And although he was not aware of it at the time, three years ago one of Escobar's hitmen, 'Popeye' (alias Jhon Jairo Velásquez Vásquez), revealed in El Popular that he was indeed targeted.
"Yes, Ricardo Gareca was always on Pablo Escobar's radar; however, they never reached him. Ricardo Gareca's love for football saved him, as the Cali Cartel considered placing a car bomb on him and the other América de Cali players, since the Cali Cartel had placed a car bomb on Pablo's family."
This week, in an interview with ESPN, the coach of the Peruvian National Team confessed how he found out about that news. "I found out over time because 'Popeye', one of Pablo Escobar's hitmen, mentioned it. I received the information because I don't have social media, through WhatsApp, about a comment he made saying that I was on the list," he said.
"I was completely unaware at the time, the rivalries were very normal back then, but when the real problem erupted, I left (for Argentina). Actually, when I left, that's when the cartel problem exploded. While I was there, they were rivalries, each cartel had a team, and that's what I knew and was aware of. Then, that problem escalated and became more serious. Popeye told the story, and I was unaware," he added.
This is not the first time
Although Ricardo Gareca's statements went viral quickly, it is true that he had previously referred to the same topic. The first time was a day after Popeye's statements, and then in 2020.
"I heard that comment from Pablo Escobar, but I couldn't say anything because I was completely unaware. At that time, I was the top scorer for América de Cali, and well, I suppose if there was a motive, it was because of that fact, nothing else. I never knew anything about that issue," he mentioned last year in an interview with DeTaco.