The Catalan footballer reborn thanks to a private Instagram message

BarcelonaThe season has begun in Swedish football and, where one would not expect to find any Catalans, you stumble upon the name of Marc Manchón, a 28-year-old from Barcelona. He plays for Sundsvall, in the country's second division. His is not a story of overcoming adversity, but rather of resilience and effort. A young man who found himself on the verge of fulfilling his dream and debuting with Espanyol's first team. One summer he was left with no future in professional football and was on the verge of giving it all up. “They always say you have to be in the right place at the right time. It's a cliché and true at the same time, but you also have to be prepared in case it ever happens.” After a moment of uncertainty, the moment arrived via an Instagram message. And to a destination he surely never would have imagined.

Manchón speaks to ARA via a remote meeting. From the sofa of his home, he opens the doors to his life in Sundsvall, a town in the center of Sweden. A few weeks ago, he began his third season at the club. He recalls that the first match of the season, culminating in an agonizing comeback victory, was played over two days. “It was nerve-wracking. In two minutes we scored two goals. In the 95th and 96th minutes. We were facing a rival that had just been promoted from the Third Division, and we had a lot of pressure. Furthermore, the match was suspended in the 25th minute due to snow, and we played the remaining 65 minutes the next day.”

This year he debuts as captain. “My teammates chose me and I don't shy away from responsibility, but it's still surprising that they place their trust in me.” In fact, Manchón admits the fear he felt three years ago, when he arrived in a country with a different culture, with an "of school" level of English and with a certain pressure he didn't expect due to his past at Espanyol. “At first, I found it difficult. When I arrived, there were high expectations and, moreover, I found a team with no identity and very anarchic.” A change of coach gave Marc a boost, and he consolidated his place in the starting eleven.

But Marc's history with football began as white-and-blue: “My uncle was a Perico fan and I arrived at the club at 11 years old”. Half a lifetime chasing a dream that came very close. “I was training with the first team, and when you are so close, accepting that you have to leave is tough”, says Manchón, who overcame all the filters until reaching the reserve team and being its captain. He carries it in his blood. He led teammates who are now in the elite. From Joan Garcia, whom he remembers as a cat between the posts, to Javi Puado, Pol Lozano, Marc Roca, and other important footballers who emerged from the Dani Jarque Sports City.

Captain of Joan Garcia, Javi Puado and Pol Lozano

Years he will not forget, but which have also led him to reflect on the pressure that young footballers assume at formative ages. “They don't prepare you for this demand. At 13 or 14 years old, we had responsibilities that our classmates didn't have.” Continuing with his reflections, Manchón is sincere. “I've been working with a psychologist for a while. Many times my first thought is negative, and it's something I need to improve, because I've realized that to succeed in the elite, you have to be very mentally prepared.” He specifically recalls how, during those training sessions with the first perico team, his teammates were like planes. “Especially mentally. Great players have intelligence not only on the field, but also emotional.”

Those years at Espanyol were cut short by the unfortunate arrival of covid. “It was very tough. I was one of the older ones on the team, and they told me my time to leave had come.” At that point, the reality of professional football clashed with a 21-year-old Marc. He signed for Llagostera for two years, followed by one year in Teruel and a fourth season at Cerdanyola. From that journey between the Primera and Segunda Federación, he remembers very beautiful moments, “like the year living in Zaragoza where we achieved promotion,” but also some truly tough ones. “After being promoted with Teruel, they decided to change the club's structure and I found myself without a team all summer. Desperate, not knowing where I would play until a week before the season started, I went to Cerdanyola.”

However, suddenly, a former classmate and current assistant coach of Sundsvall appeared with a message on Instagram. “At that moment he asked me about my situation and immediately proposed that I go to Sweden. It was so unexpected, I thought it was a joke.” And from what seems like a simple anecdote, three seasons have passed in which he has integrated as one more Swede and in which he has even encouraged his teammates to learn Catalan. “Here they usually study Spanish as an elective, but there are some to whom I teach Catalan. They even get videos on social media or put it on Duolingo.”

And while we finish the chat, there is also time to miss home. “Life here is different. I miss social life and, obviously, my people”. Also ham, let's not kid ourselves. “It's not eaten that badly, but there's nothing like the Mediterranean diet”. In fact, just before hanging up the call, he introduces his flatmate. A very promising Swedish footballer who, although shy, speaks a little Catalan. It's almost eight. Half of Sweden has had dinner three hours ago. Manchón has not yet fully adjusted to these schedules.