Sebastián Villa: “Riquelme can call me, I won’t shut anyone out” | OneFootball

Sebastián Villa chose TyC Sports to speak for the first time at the length his great semester at Independiente Rivadavia deserves. The Colombian winger was one of the standout players of the 2026 Apertura, made the best team of the regular phase, and now, after the elimination against Unión in the round of 16, sat down to talk about everything: his arrival in Mendoza as a personal lifeline, River’s failed interest, the door left open to Boca, and the dream of playing in the World Cup with Colombia. An unfiltered conversation with one of the most talented and controversial players in South American football.

Villa spoke proudly about the process experienced with the Mendoza side, but also with humility: «Happy with what we have done here, not only nationally but also internationally. It’s a very beautiful process. We are a very humble team and nobody believed in us, but we had a lot of faith in our group, we earned very important points away from home, and we achieved a very important number of points.»

He also highlighted the role of the coaching staff led by Alfredo Berti: «We work with a lot of humility. People realize the work we’ve been doing and they let us feel that. Alfredo’s trust has been very important for me, for my career, and for my game.»

When asked if he is the best player in Argentine football, the Colombian winger did not fall into the trap of ego: «I don’t put myself first, there are great players whom I respect a lot. I do my job, I have a lot of respect for Leandro Paredes’ career and Di María’s as well. I don’t consider myself the best, but I work to be the best.»

The story of how he arrived at La Lepra has a personal dimension that goes far beyond football: «I was training in a gym in Medellín when I got a call saying there was a possibility with Independiente Rivadavia, and I was not in a very good moment in my life. They told me that here I would be calm and that they would take care of me. I needed to come to Mendoza to mature and be reborn. I only have words of gratitude for the club and for the president.»

He also referred to his past without avoiding responsibility: «In my past I made mistakes, I trusted people I shouldn’t have trusted, but I am someone who believes in second chances and I was always available to the justice system for anything they needed. Now I have a beautiful family.»

Questions about his future brought answers that leave no one indifferent. About River’s interest in the last transfer window, he was direct: «There were calls, but they couldn’t agree on the numbers. My job is to play football, and if the opportunity comes to go to any club, then I have to go to work. I think about my family’s future.»

And about a possible return to Boca: «A lot of things are said that aren’t true. I had the chance to speak with Chicho recently and we agreed to keep talking. Now we have to wait, sit down with my family and the president of Independiente Rivadavia, and we’ll see what happens with my future.» And to close, a striking phrase that leaves everyone waiting expectantly: «Riquelme can call me, I’m not closing the door on anyone.»

The Colombian national team is another of Villa’s great driving forces: «I’ve been pushing for seven years to be in the national team, I’ve been fighting for a long time and for me the national team is everything. As a kid I dreamed of being there and playing in a World Cup. I’ve been training twice a day every day so I can be there. Now all that’s left is to wait for the coach’s decision; I’ll keep working so I can be there.»

The Colombian also clarified the remembered clash he had on the field with his teammate Matías Fernández: «You have to be serious, we were winning and he started taking players on, I didn’t like it and I told him so. Mati is a kid with great talent and it stayed on the field.» An internal episode he settled with maturity and without drama.

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇪🇸 here.