The Real deal

Everyone has a different relationship with sports and have taken different paths through their career.

Some athletes play through their adolescent years before getting moved off, while some make it to the pros.

Some athletes partake in highly competitive leagues, while others play casually.

Some individuals are born into sports and have some kind of ball in their hands their whole lives, while others don’t pick it up until later in life.

Everyone’s path is different and the destination varies greatly.

One young Jay County resident has earned a unique opportunity that will help to put him on a career to success.

Manuel Hernandez, a 9-year-old Jay County resident, was selected to compete on one of the United States’ 10-and-younger soccer teams at Real Madrid Foundation World Challenge this week.

“I’m a little nervous but mostly excited,” said Manuel, who has never been on a plane before but flies out today to Madrid, Spain. “I get to play for my dream club (organization) now.”

As part of the experience, there will be an opening ceremony on Sunday and Manuel will be trained by the Real Madrid Club de Fútbol coaching staff Monday through Thursday in the mornings with group play matches in the afternoon on Wednesday and Thursday. (They believe he will be on the USA White team in Group D, with potential matches against Dubai, Spain, Canada Blue, Wallabies Australia and EFP Tulum Mexico.) The closing ceremony and final matches will be on Friday.

The athletes will also be provided with some gear and get a tour of Real Madrid CF’s Santiago Bernabéu Stadium.

To get the opportunity, Manuel had to attend one of the Real Madrid Foundation’s clinics that was run by Kaptiva Sports and perform well enough for coaches to notice him to get selected.

“My parents signed me up and told me to do my best, so that’s what I did,” Manuel said. “I used some skills I saw on YouTube, because they’ve told me to watch some soccer videos. … I’m pretty confident and impressed because I wouldn’t think I would really make it, but I’m impressed that I did.”

The East Jay third grader has been playing soccer since he was four, competing in the Boomer League in Portland before joining the indoor soccer league in Celina this past year. His father and grandfather also are involved in soccer, often going down to Union City to play during the summer months.

Manuel has also grown up watching soccer, specifically Real Madrid when he could and took a liking to the team’s former star Cristiano Ronaldo.

“From a young age, we saw that soccer really grabbed his attention,” said his mother, Frida Hernandez. “Watching his role model, Cristiano Ronaldo, made him dream of being big one day.”

Frida said she noticed Manuel’s proficiency in the sport during his second season playing as he started to become recognized by other players and coaches. She was further encouraged by Manuel’s coach Devin Lloyd about his talent if given the proper training and opportunities.

She decided to sign him up for the clinic in Indianapolis, knowing it might not turn out, particularly in the first season due to the high level of competition. But it worked out for Manuel, and now he’ll get the opportunity to learn from some of the best in the world and take a large first step in achieving his dreams.

“I’m not going to lie, when we signed him up, we knew there would be kids from other states or that probably had more practice,” Frida said. “As a mother, I was like ‘He’ll be selected.’ But then I thought ‘OK, if he doesn’t it’s fine. We’ll try again next year.’

So, once I got the email that said that he was selected, I started crying and was really happy. I told him right away and he was really happy.”

For the next eight days, Jay County will have some representation in Madrid, Spain, during one of the largest events for youth soccer, hosted by one of the most recognizable brands in the sport.

When reflecting on the work he’s already done and the opportunity he has in front of him, Manuel had two simple messages. “Just chase your dreams and love people.”