If in the era when Alberto Spencer played (between 1954 and 1972) there had been a development of technology applied to sports, especially in medicine, as in the era in which Antonio Valencia played (since 2003), when that branch has acquired great prominence in the world of sports and footballers can overcome various types of injuries in the short or medium term, then it would make sense, according to Walter Spencer - the youngest son of Cabeza Mágica - to compare both players. He explained this on Instagram Live with EL UNIVERSO.
Spencer and Valencia represent two different eras of national soccer, one being the maximum figure of Peñarol, three-time champion of America, two-time world champion, and eternal top scorer of the Copa Libertadores (54 goals). And the Amazonian, with ten years at Manchester United, where he became captain, finalist of the Champions League, two-time Premier League champion, and champion of the Europa League 2016-2017.
But according to Walter (49 years old), who is based in Montevideo, both footballers are "incomparable", regardless of the fact that Spencer was a forward and Valencia a midfielder transformed into an outside midfielder.
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"I have no doubt that Antonio's speed, in my father's time, would have made a huge difference, as well as his tactical ability. I also have no doubt that my father, with today's ball, would have scored goals from everywhere. In fact, he would have played not just ten or eleven years, but 30 because he was a person who was physically and athletically very gifted; the thing is that he played at a time when he was literally killed with fouls. His legs were full of scars, they removed his menisci," he said.
According to Walter's account, his father was forced - for physical reasons - to change his shooting style after tearing his cruciate ligaments, before 1966 when he was in his seventh season at Peñarol. He recounts that with the help of coach Juan Lopez and undergoing, under his observation, "workouts on a rowing machine and workouts with a sand ball," and "coordination of arm movements," the tricolor was able to recover and adapt to his new style of finishing to remain active until 1972, when he retired playing for Barcelona Sporting Club.
"I imagine what it would have been like for my father to play with all the equipment of today, with GPS and everything Antonio had at Manchester United, and what it would have been like for Antonio to drink water from a bottle in the middle of the Intercontinental Cup. He wouldn't believe it; where is the Gatorade? Antonio would have wondered," Walter said jokingly.
According to the youngest of the Spencer brothers (Carlos Alberto and Jacqueline are the other children of the legend), Ecuadorian fans "should value" that in the history of their football they not only have Spencer and Valencia, but also Polo Carrera, Enrique Raymondi, Jorge Pibe Bolaños, Álex Aguinaga, or Jaime Iván Kaviedes.
"(Valencia) has not been given (in the national team) because there is a belief issue," emphasized Spencer. And that is not an obstacle for him to heap praise on Toño, because he makes an analogy: "Ecuador has, as if it were going to war, a missile that nobody else has: it's called Antonio Valencia." And he finishes by sharing an appreciation from Édison Méndez that Toño should be the standard-bearer of the Tricolor. However, Walter says that Valencia is at an age (34 years) and has experienced enough in his career that it is a time to enjoy and he should not have to bear the weight of criticism if there is a potential failure in the qualifying for the 2022 World Cup.
With today's ball, my father would score goals from every angle.
Walter Spencer