On Alem Avenue at 2300, between streets that alternate pavement and dirt, stands a small but cozy house. At first glance it is indistinguishable from the other homes in the area: a place at the entrance where merchandise is sold, a dining room that acts as a family hearth and, in the background, the rooms where dreams rest. there lives Carlos Abeldaño with his parents, in a neighborhood that is growing little by little, with effort and hope.
That was the scenario where one of the most recent stories of Tucuman football was born: that of a 20-year-old boy who fulfilled his dream of making his debut in Atlético’s First Division against River.
“It was a beautiful feeling, something that I had dreamed of since I was a child. Fulfilling one of the goals that I wanted so much is a memory that will stay with me forever,” says Carlos, in dialogue with Fuerte al Medio, LA GACETA’s sports proposal.
The debut against River
The scene took place at the Monumental José Fierro, against a rival that commands respect on any field: River. The youth player was waiting on the bench when Lucas Pusineri called him. His heart was beating stronger than ever.
“When they called me to add minutes in my debut, it was a huge joy. I’ll be honest with you: when he spoke to me (Lucas) Pusineri I didn’t listen to him, I just wanted to go in, play and have fun. Now on the court, calmer, I remembered his words a little,” he admits.
The dream had come true and the faith that had accompanied him since he was a child found its reward. “I had a lot of faith in God that the debut was going to happen soon. I dreamed of it being against River and it came true,” he says with a smile.
A life of sacrifice
Abeldaño’s path was marked by effort. His first steps were in Amalia and then in Central Tucumán, where he experienced firsthand what it means to fight against limitations.
“Everything came together for me: the great sacrifice of training in Amalia, then in Tucumán Central. Sometimes we went behind the new terminal in the park. I went by bicycle, and when I couldn’t, I walked. Thank God, after so much effort and dedication, I am where I am,” he remembers.
His father remembers that stage harshly. “My son is a David, because life is hard and he learned from a young age to fight. We are a humble family, who many times had to share a sandwich between four. But God gave him the opportunity to get there, and that is a miracle,” says his father, whose name is also Carlos Abeldaño.
Loneliness and faith
Talent took him far. A trial at Argentinos Juniors forced him to move to Buenos Aires when he was just a teenager. He went through difficult weeks, but he managed to stay.
“They saw me in Tucumán Central and took me to try out for Argentinos. I stayed for a week and stayed. It was difficult for me, but it went well, I had a lot of experience there,” recalls Carlos.
His father provides the other side of the story. “It was hard. Financially the club took care of part of it, but it was difficult to have a son alone in Buenos Aires when he was 13 or 14 years old. We sent him what we could, a money order of $4,000, which for us was money for two days of food. But with sacrifice we get there,” he says.
The uprooting marked him, but it also strengthened him. “The great sacrifice of training in Tucumán Central, of walking home when I had nothing, drives me to continue sacrificing and wanting twice as much,” he reflects.
And in the midst of those trials he found refuge in faith. “My bond with God started last year, at the beginning of the year, with my dad. Since then my life has changed a lot. I have clearer goals. I go to a church that is five or six blocks away. Whenever I can I go, sometimes with my dad, sometimes alone,” he says.
The neighborhood and the family
Back in Tucumán, Carlos’s life once again revolved around his house in Alem at 2300. There, between the family business and his affections, two treasures are now kept: his debut t-shirts.
“The T-shirts have a special place, especially for my dad and mom. They will probably make a painting for them. They will be saved forever, as a special gift for them,” he says.
The neighborhood surrounds him with affection. “Many people in the neighborhood ask me what I felt at that moment against River, what experience I had. People congratulate me and are happy, I like that,” he says. His father confirms it. While he was in the stands with the shirt from the first call, several “Dean” fans came up to congratulate him.
“There was everything, good people and bad people. But at that moment the majority congratulated me, hugged me. I felt the warmth of the people. I always tell my son not to change, to continue being a normal guy. It is unthinkable that he made his debut against River, a very great pride,” he describes.
Between idols and nicknames
Adapting to the First team was not easy for him. “It’s very different from the Reserve. I’m a little embarrassed to get together with the kids and talk. I’m having a hard time integrating, but little by little they’re making me a part. It’s a nice, big, and humble group.”
The feeling of sharing a dressing room with references still surprises him. “I never imagined being with players of that class, world-class, like Carlos Auzqui, Leandro Diaz or ‘Bebe’ Acosta. Sharing a dressing room with them is something I never thought about,” he says.
In the middle of that process, a nickname emerged that identifies him: “The nickname ‘Ogre’ was given to me by some journalists, and the celebration with dance was invented with my friends from the laundry. It was like a cabal,” he says.
The father’s gaze
The excitement of the debut was not only Carlos’s. His father experienced it as a spiritual confirmation. “It was something very important for the life of my son and our family. We come from below, without many possibilities. Thanks to football and God, he is there. We believe that the word is fulfilled: we have faith that God is going to make him great,” he indicates.
And he remembers clearly what he felt at that moment. “One always has the hope that God will put things in their place. I always believed that. The Lord told me that I was going to see him debut in the First Division. And I saw it, against a world team like River. It is a great pride,” he reflects.
The future and dreams
He finds the present enjoying it, but without losing sight of what is coming. “We have fulfilled a dream, mine and my dad’s. And this is just beginning,” says Carlos.
His next great desire is to score his first goal in First Division. “That is my dream today. I hope I continue to be an inspiration for the kids, an example in sports,” he says.
And as a final message, he leaves a few words for the fans: “May they trust and have faith in us. We will always do our best so that the club goes very far.”
The story of Carlos Abeldaño is not only that of a youth who debuted with the Atlético Tucumán shirt. It is also that of a neighborhood boy, the son of a street vendor, who walked miles to train, who knew the loneliness of Buenos Aires as a teenager, who found support in faith and who today, at just 20, looks at professional football with humility and hope.
His debut against River was not just a sporting moment: it was confirmation that dreams built in small houses, in neighborhoods with dirt streets, can also come true on the illuminated grass of a full stadium.
The ball is already moving for him. What’s next will be to write the rest of the story: score that first goal in Primera, consolidate in Atlético and, who knows, take that dream of Alem’s 2300 to the biggest fields on the continent.