Santiago Romero (33) is one of the many Uruguayans who played in Chile. The midfielder, who now defends Danubio, passed through Deportes Iquique (2013/14) and O’Higgins (2020-2021) and has only good memories of our country. “I had very nice experiences there both in terms of football and personally. “I made a lot of friends,” says the footballer in an interview with AS.
Romero, who also has experience with teams such as Nacional de Montevideo, Rosario Central and Fortaleza, speaks with pride about his time in Chile. “I had an extraordinary year in Iquique: we won the Chile Cup and moved into the Sudamericana. “I scored a lot of goals and built a bond with people… And in O’Higgins we had a Clausura for eternity,” says “Colo”.
– Did you have any opportunities to return to Chile?
– Yes, there were always contacts with my representative Nelson Ferro. I had many suggestions, but I decided to stay in Uruguay because my wife and I wanted to start a family. Fortunately, our son Manuel was recently born and we are very happy.
-And which Chilean clubs did you contact back then?
– I don’t want to lie to you or tell you much, because I’ll leave that to my representative. But at that time there was contact with Colo Colo and the U, who are the biggest teams there, and the return to Iquique was also managed.
– Do you want to return to Chile?
– Yes definitely. Once we are established as a family, as my son has just been born, I will see if there is a good way to return to the country, but I would like to do it.
– What do you miss most about our country?
– There are beautiful landscapes to visit with family. Cavancha was very beautiful and I also remember seeing great vineyards and restaurants when I was in O’Higgins. I really liked the Chilean gastronomy. I went to my friends from Parrilladas La Uruguaya, to whom I send a warm hug, and there was a chicken pamplona which I loved.
His relationship with “Maxi” Falcón and his companies
– You worked with Maximiliano Falcón in Rentistas (2020). How do you remember it?
– Clear. We became Apertura champions, something historic for the club, and then he went to Colo Colo and I to O’Higgins. He was very funny and had a great time every day.
– Do you have any anecdotes with him?
– Well, we just met when we met in Chile, and we also exchanged ideas in Nacional. When he was a teenager, I was already in the first league. He loved to wear weird clothes… In Rentistas he wore SpongeBob SquarePants socks that I would never wear in my life (laughs).
– You have tagged several companies on your Instagram account. What is it about?
– Yes, that’s another facet to look for. I have had a restaurant called La Guinda for almost four years, which is located near the center of Montevideo, in an area full of bars and clubs. It was a very nice experience. Then I also have an optician called VIU, which I have had together with an optician friend for about seven years and who has helped us very well. I’m also a partner in a cream brand called Wings that has grown over the last year.
