Javier Correa on his son’s football path: “He has to step out of my shadow”

Javier Correa says his son Bautista must build a football identity separate from his father’s. The Colo-Colo forward addressed the issue during a relaxed livestream with Arturo Vidal, as the pair reviewed the club’s current affairs.

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Bauti has to keep growing, he has to keep learning. I think he also has to step out of my shadow, because he is ‘the son of,’ and that is the difficult part. Sometimes they treat him and punish him more than usual.

Asked about Bautista’s progress in Colo-Colo’s youth system, Correa described the burden attached to the family name. “Bauti has to keep growing, he has to keep learning. I think he also has to step out of my shadow, because he is ‘the son of,’ and that is the difficult part. Sometimes they treat him and punish him more than usual,” he said.

Despite the added demands, Correa trusts the young player’s mental and sporting strength. “He is going to become stronger. He has ability and hunger, which is what characterizes him, and I always tell him that,” Correa said.

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He is going to become stronger. He has ability and hunger, which is what characterizes him, and I always tell him that.

The father also acknowledged the limits of his influence. “I always try to help him. I want him to win even when he says ‘good morning,’ but after that everything depends on him,” he said, emphasizing that Bautista’s development ultimately belongs to the player himself.

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I always try to help him. I want him to win even when he says ‘good morning,’ but after that everything depends on him.