Altidore recalls Villarreal culture shock and months waking up hungry | OneFootball

Jozy Altidore has reflected on the off-pitch struggle behind his 2008 move to Villarreal at 18, saying the culture shock stretched from breakfast tables to daily habits.

"I will never forget my first breakfast. I go down and it is little pieces of toast, ham, cheese. I am like, where is the cereal, where are the eggs? None of that," he told YouTube / US Soccer.

"I was waking up hungry for six months. I am like starving. There are no bagels. None of that. Everything is like proportional."

Altidore had arrived from New York Red Bulls in a big-money deal for the time, billed as a major hope for United States football. The teenager was adapting to a new language, new routines and a very different diet while trying to earn minutes.

On the pitch, he never fully met the expectations in a highly competitive LaLiga squad, though he did become the first American to score in the competition. Opportunities were limited and subsequent loans followed.

He later rebuilt at AZ Alkmaar, rediscovering his scoring touch and reviving a career that went on to include notable spells for club and country. His remarks highlight how human adaptation can be as decisive as footballing demands.

Source: El Periódico Mediterráneo