"According to 'Loco' Vargas, his unconventional route to success with Fiorentina involves regular Thursdays spent at the disco, leading them to qualify for the Champions League."
Light-Hearted Look at Juan Manuel Vargas' New Venture and Football Past
Juan Manuel Vargas has stepped into a fresh phase of his career as the host of his YouTube show, 'La Parrilla del Loco'. In the third episode, he welcomed a familiar face: Roberto Palacios, a teammate during several America Cup and South American Qualifiers editions.
You might be intrigued: Recently, Pedro García criticized Lima as the host city for the 2025 Copa Libertadores final, stating, "How can it be played in a city where crime reigns?" The charismatic 'Loco', together with 'Chorri', reminisced about their football days and their adventures abroad. Vargas unveiled a peculiar secret to his success at Fiorentina, the Italian club he represented:
"Every Thursday the captain would say 'let's go out'. We'd start with dinner, appetizers, have a favorite spot for drinks, snacks. Then we'd move to the restaurant. But it wasn't a restaurant. He knew it wasn't. That turned into a disco. We'd set up the dinner and then the last ones standing, there'd be five, six or seven left," he began.
You might be curious: Reimond Manco criticized Christian Cueva for thinking he could still make a comeback to the Peruvian national team, stating, "He's not good enough for the qualifiers." "Chorri Palacios wanted to clarify to help his friend, saying that Vargas and his former Fiorentina teammates did it after playing their weekend match. However, the former defender contradicted him: "No, no, it was Thursday, we played on Sunday," leaving the former Sporting Cristal midfielder astonished.
Vargas continued his tale, asserting that Prandelli, their coach at the time, was aware of their escapades. "On the next day we'd arrive, he'd look at everyone's faces and separate them, saying 'you're doing regenerative, you're going for a little run and you're leaving'. But then on Sunday he'd say 'you went out on Thursday, you stayed out late, today I want you to run for those who went home early.'"
You might find fascinating: The Peruvian claimed that Prandelli's permisiveness helped Fiorentina reach Champions League spots in the Italian Serie A. "We'd let loose and then we'd make it to Champions." He added that when they stopped doing so, they didn't make it back into the toughest European competition.
Vargas' Unrivaled Recognition in Italy
On another note, Juan Manuel Vargas discussed his emotional return to Fiorentina in March for teammate Giuseppe Rossi's farewell match. The 'Loco' compared the admiration he received in Peru with the one he experienced in Italy after a decade away.
"Sometimes I think there's no respect, because they don't value you [in Peru], last time I went to Italy, after 10 years I returned and went back to Fiorentina, and seeing those people, the applause, the teammates, the teammate who invited me to that farewell, they value you more abroad than in your own country," he said.
The Italian Expedition of Juan Manuel Vargas
Juan Manuel Vargas participated in two Champions League editions with Fiorentina. In 2008/2009 and 2009/2010, he played a total of seven matches (providing one assist) and advanced to the round of 16, scoring two goals (including one against Bayern Munich).
Juan Manuel Vargas' Present Endeavors
Away from football since 2020, Juan Manuel Vargas hosts a podcast, invites local personalities, participates in sports events, is part of a betting house, and runs personal businesses. However, it took a few years after his retirement for the 'Loco' to appear on camera again, as he desired to stay out of the public eye. But today, he seems fully engaged in audiovisual projects.
You might find captivating: Christian Cueva got emotional during an interview following a brace with Cienciano and talks about his return to the Peruvian national team. Fernando Gago was fired from Boca Juniors: How did Alianza Lima influence his departure and exacerbate the institutional crisis? Will Flavia Montes play in the Alianza Lima vs San Martín match for the Liga Peruana de Vóley 2025 semi-final return leg?
Topics of Interest
Juan Manuel Vargas, Roberto Palacios, Peruvian national team, Fiorentina, Peru-sports.
- Juan Manuel Vargas' YouTube show, 'La Parrilla del Loco', recently discussed the Copa Libertadores, with guests reminiscing about their football days and adventures abroad.
- In the past, Vargas revealed that he and his Fiorentina teammates would go out every Thursday, a secret to their success, which apparently did not affect their performance on Sunday.
- The permissive approach of their coach, Prandelli, is believed to have helped Fiorentina reach Champions League spots in the Italian Serie A, as Vargas asserted.
- During his career, Vargas participated in two Champions League editions with Fiorentina, playing a total of seven matches and advancing to the round of 16.
- After a decade away, Vargas returned to Italy for teammate Giuseppe Rossi's farewell match and experienced emotions and admiration that he felt were lacking in his own country.
- Post-football, Vargas has diversified his interests, hosting a podcast, participating in sports events, being part of a betting house, and running personal businesses.
- Topics of interest currently include Christian Cueva's emotional return to the Peruvian national team, the influence of Alianza Lima on Fernando Gago's departure from Boca Juniors, and Flavia Montes' potential role in the Alianza Lima vs San Martín match for the Liga Peruana de Vóley 2025 semi-final return leg.
