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UEL7:00pm LEVWHU7:00pm MILROM7:00pm LIVATA7:00pm SLBOMUCLFT, Apr. 9 ARS2FCB2FT, Apr. 9 RMA3MCI3FT, Apr. 10 ATM2BVB1FT, Apr. 10 PSG2BAR3EPLSat, 11:30am NEWWLWDWTOTWLWDWSat, 2:00pm BRELLDDDSHULDDLDSat, 2:00pm BURDWDDLBHALWLDLSat, 2:00pm MCIWDDWWLUTLDLLWCHAFT, Apr. 10 BIR0CAR1FT, Apr. 10 HUL2MID2FT, Apr. 10 SWA3STO0FT, Apr. 10 WBA2ROT0SPSat, 2:00pm CELWLWWDSTMDWLDLSat, 2:00pm HEADWLDWLIVLDLLDSat, 2:00pm STJWDLLWKILLDWDWSat, 2:00pm MOTWWLDWHIBWDWLLLEOFT, Apr. 9 STE2BAR1FT, Apr. 9 CHT0CUN1FT, Apr. 10 PET3POV0FT, Apr. 10 WYW0DER0LETFT, Apr. 9 MCM0CRE1FT, Apr. 9 COL1STO2FT, Apr. 9 NEW1ACC3FT, Apr. 9 WRE4CRW1
When 33-year-old Sergio Canales lines up for Monterrey against Inter Miami’s quartet of ex-Barcelona icons on Wednesday, he will do so as the most expensive signing in Mexican football history.
There were several junctures when imagining glamour at this stage of his career seemed fanciful, if not impossible. None more so than on Dec. 30, 2015, when he was stretchered off the Bernabeu pitch — the place his career had been predicted to ignite as a teenager but where he only lasted a single season playing for Real Madrid. Then with Real Sociedad, he had just suffered the third ACL injury of his career.
On that day his own family could not envision him playing again. Canales could, though, and nine years later he is hoping to play an integral part in overcoming Lionel Messi and company in the quarterfinal of the CONCACAF Champions Cup.
“My family was at the game (Real Madrid vs. Canales’ Real Sociedad) and they came down to the dressing room at half-time,” Canales tells The Athletic. “My uncles were crying, my wife called me crying. My brothers, my friends, everyone was devastated. I think they all thought that my career would end. I had overcome it before (in 2011 and 2012) but had fallen through another crack.
‘That day I told myself: ‘My career is not going to finish here.’”
Canales began to research how to recover from such major setbacks. He started counseling and was put in touch with a sports psychologist, who worked with him on setting short- and long-term goals.
“The recovery after that third injury was really bad,” says Canales. “I remember the doctor told me that he wasn’t sure if I’d be able to compete fully again. So I had to believe again. I became very stubborn.
Together, with my psychologist, we established a goal to be called up to the Spanish national team. It was odd that I couldn’t even run and other people suggested that I retire but I was thinking about the national team.”
In March 2019, aged 29, the vision finally came true. Canales made his debut for Spain against Norway, the fi
