Ricardo Gareca's life records several little-known chapters. Although in the national territory he is remembered for his successful tenure as coach of the Peruvian national team — he took us to the World Cup after 36 years — during his time as a football player he had to face very complicated moments.
One of these occurred when he wore the América de Cali shirt in the 80s, in the midst of a country marked by the presence of drug trafficking cartels.
Jhon Jairo Velásquez Vásquez, alias Popeye, surprised everyone four years ago when he mentioned that Pablo Escobar had his eye on ‘Tigre’. According to the former hitman in an interview with El Popular, the leader of the Medellín Cartel suffered an attack against his family by the Cali Cartel and "planned to retaliate against several players from 'Los Diablos Rojos'."
"Ricardo Gareca was always in Pablo Escobar's sights; however, they never reached him. Ricardo Gareca's love for football saved him, as he and the other players from América de Cali were considered targets for a car bomb, since the Cali Cartel had placed a car bomb on Pablo's family," detailed the deceased former chief of Escobar's hitmen.
Jhon Jairo Velásquez Vásquez, alias "Popeye", died of esophageal cancer and was Pablo Escobar's right-hand.
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What did Ricardo Gareca say about 'Popeye's' statements?
Ricardo Gareca had the opportunity to comment on 'Popeye's' statements. The 64-year-old strategist acknowledged that the criminal's words took him by surprise.
"I found out over time because it was said by 'Popeye', a hitman from the era of Pablo Escobar. I received information about it, because I don't have social media, through WhatsApp, about a comment he made saying that I was on his list," he mentioned to ESPN.
While the 'Flaco' admitted that these situations were common due to the context of violence that Colombian society faced, he emphasized that he was not aware of that passage and even less that it determined his departure from the coffee country.
"I was completely unaware, at that time it was very normal for all that and the rivalries, but then when the real problem broke out, I already left (for Argentina). In reality, when I came, all those cartel problems exploded. While I was there, there were rivalries, each cartel had a team, and that's what I knew and was aware of. Then, that problem exploded and it became more serious. 'Popeye' told that story, and I was unaware," he pointed out.