A Memorable Experience
International Experience – Spain (2024 & 2025)
For the past two summers, I’ve had the opportunity to live, train, and compete in Spain, experiencing first-hand the pace, precision, and professionalism of European soccer. These trips have been some of the most challenging and rewarding moments of my career so far, pushing me to grow in ways I couldn’t have imagined.
2024 – First Invitation
At 16, I was selected as 1 of only 30 athletes nationwide for a two-week trial in Salamanca with Select Generation Academy. Every day was high-intensity and high-touch from early morning tactical sessions to late-evening matches against professional competition. I trained alongside elite MLS and ECNL players, and through Select Generation, earned the opportunity to train directly with Unionistas de Salamanca CF, a fully professional Spanish club.
We faced teams like Unionistas and UD Santa Marta in highly competitive matches. In one of those games, I scored one of our two goals — an unforgettable moment against a pro side. The coaches’ feedback emphasized my adaptability, work rate, and impact, even in a completely new style of play.
2025 – Invited Back
Being invited back to Spain at 17 was a huge honor and another step up in expectations. I spent two more weeks in Salamanca with Select Generation, building on what I’d learned the year before, and then joined Eture in Vinaròs for three additional weeks.
Through Eture, I had the chance to train with CD Castellón, a La Liga club with a fast, demanding style. Every session demanded quicker decisions, smarter movement, and precise execution at a professional pace. The environment pushed me physically, mentally, and tactically and I embraced every challenge.
Impact of Back-to-Back Summers
Training and competing in Spain changed the way I see the game. The level of detail in coaching, the technical demands, and the intensity of competition elevated not just my skills, but my understanding of what it takes to succeed at the professional level. I came home more confident, more disciplined, and more driven than ever to keep pushing my limits.
0:07 – Game Start
6:57 – Good Pressure
12:22 – Nasty Headbutt
12:57 – When you thought you were Batman
22:17 – Back on the pitch after recovery
30:57 – You dropped from a 9 back to an 8
31:27 – 31:47 – good ball movement
32:45 – good dribble and movement
33:52 – great pass and fantastic run from an 8
41:12 – 2nd half start
45:55 – Great diagonal run with good timing (he missed the pass to you but you guys connect on this same run later 😉 )
48:30 – Fantastic run, ball control, and cut-back pass
50:07 – good show to space and quick pass to wing
52:16 – same run and timing as 45:53, but this time you got the pass and finished it
58:39 – good physical shielding and recovery from a not great pass
59:34 – Not you at all, but an amazing goal worth watching
68:24 – Chase sub off
73:40 – Chase back on
75:14 – good turn with pass
78:04 – end game
