From 95 kilos and a four-year hiatus to Oviedo’s in-form striker, Fede Viñas faces Villarreal | OneFootball

Fede Viñas, Real Oviedo’s in-form striker with four goals in his last three LaLiga outings, faces Villarreal on Thursday while chasing survival with Oviedo and a World Cup place with Uruguay.

According to El Periódico Mediterráneo, he was once an attacking midfielder and a full-back, and even worked as a delivery helper, before switching late to the out-and-out striker’s role. He did so at 17 after four years away from football.

He began at Liverpool Montevideo but quit the sport at 13. For four years he stayed off the pitch and helped a lorry driver deliver hams, meat and anything else required.

A friend then persuaded him to join a side in Uruguay’s lowest tier. After the hiatus he weighed 95 kilos and moved up front because no one else wanted the role.

From that chance, his career gathered pace in Uruguay, then in Mexico with América and León. His move to Oviedo was a personal bet by Jesús Martínez and carried risk, as he was recovering from a serious Achilles injury that had scuppered a near move to Napoli.

After a rough start and criticism, Viñas has nine league goals this season.

Source: El Periódico Mediterráneo