The nightmare of Victor Camarasa, the Cardiff City fans' ido
Wed Mar 31, 2021 2:28 pm
The nightmare of Victor Camarasa, the Cardiff City fans' idol who's barely played a game since he left
The Spaniard was a player who got supporters up off their seats, but it has all gone a bit sour since he left the Welsh capital
By Glen Williams
Wednesday 31st March 2021
Victor Camarasa has endured a nightmare since leaving Cardiff City (Image: Getty Images)
There are some players who make supporters just fall in love with the game all over again.
Ardent Cardiff City fans will have seen it all down the years, the grisly, battle-hardened centre backs, the wonderkids, the goal machines and everything in between.
But there is nothing like the feeling when a gifted footballer rocks up at your club and bosses it. And that is what Victor Camarasa did.
Despite Cardiff battling the threat of relegation from the Premier League for practically the entire season, with Camarasa in the team, anything seemed possible.
That strike on the half volley against Chelsea, that worldie against Leicester City, he left City fans imprinted with special memories, even if they fell agonisingly short at the end of the campaign.
The sky appeared to be the limit, but it hasn't all been smooth sailing since he left the Welsh capital...
The Crystal Palace woes
It was no surprise that he left Cardiff at the end of the season and never came back. Few City supporters could begrudge his ambition, because he certainly showed he had the talent to cut it in the top flight.
It wasn't long before the transfer rumours emerged, Mauricio Pochettino at Tottenham was thought to be keen on signing him in the summer of 2019, so, too, were West Ham.
But it was eventually Crystal Palace who landed his signature, signing the playmaker on loan from Real Betis for the 2019/20 campaign.
While it might have looked the right fit on the surface, though, it proved a disaster move for him. Just when his stock was at its highest, the Spaniard was consigned to the bench, watching on week after week as Roy Hodgson's Palace played without him.
Three months into his loan spell, he had just five minutes of Premier League football under his belt. Hodgson said at the time: "He is competing for places in what we regard as an area where we are blessed with players.
"All he can do is continue working and trying very hard to make us think we would be better off with him than one of the other players currently playing there."
WalesOnline understood at the time that Cardiff City were interested in opening up a conversation with him in the January about a potential return back, if it was at all possible.
However, just days later Neil Warnock left and it put paid to that idea.
Camarasa's Palace nightmare came to an end in that January window and he signed on loan for Alaves in the Spanish top flight.
Hitting back with Alaves
It wasn't long before Camarasa was proving once again just what a quality player he is.
He became crucial towards the back half of last season and was a key figure for them, despite registering only one assist in his 17 games there.
But it was a consistent stretch of games which Camarasa badly needed after a watching brief for the first half of the campaign and he appeared to be enjoying his football there, having one of the first names on the team sheet.
And he closely followed Cardiff City, too, sending the Bluebirds a message of good luck on social media when they made it into the play-offs under Neil Harris last term.
All appeared to be on the up for him, but that's when disaster struck once again.
Injury agony
In August 2020, back at his parent club Real Betis and ready to push for a spot, more bad news came his way.
The club issued a statement which revealed Camarasa had suffered an agonising ACL injury and had to undergo surgery, before the season had even kicked off.
“Real Betis player Víctor Camarasa sprained his right knee in training at the end of last week," the club statement read.
"After the evaluation by the Club's medical services and the complementary tests carried out, a rupture of the anterior cruciate ligament of his knee has been diagnosed that will force him to undergo surgery."
Camarasa himself revealed just how painful it was to him when he heard the news it was an ACL tear.
"My knee hurts, but it hurts more I can't help Real Betis," he tweeted.
"The bad feelings I had training have been confirmed and I won't be able to play for a few months.
"I came back to succeed and this will not prevent me. Now it's time to cheer from the outside and come back even stronger."
He has missed 33 games to date this season, however it is thought he is not too far away from a return to action.
What next?
In total, Camarasa has played 19 games since he last kicked a ball for Cardiff City one year and 11 months ago. A crying shame for a man who, at 26, should be at the peak of his powers.
He clearly holds Betis dear to his heart and will want to stick by them for helping him undergo the rehabilitation there this season.
Whether Betis want to keep him remains to be seen, although it is hard to see why they wouldn't given the talent he showed while on these shores.
There is very little scope, one would think, for a return to the Welsh capital, certainly not while in the Championship. Indeed, should City achieve promotion, Wales international Harry Wilson would likely be the preferred option for most.
But, if Mick McCarthy had a work with his old pal Neil Warnock, City supporters would welcome Camarasa back with open arms.
Moreover, though, he won over the hearts of Bluebirds fans and they will doubtless just want to see him playing and smiling once again.
The Spaniard was a player who got supporters up off their seats, but it has all gone a bit sour since he left the Welsh capital
By Glen Williams
Wednesday 31st March 2021
Victor Camarasa has endured a nightmare since leaving Cardiff City (Image: Getty Images)
There are some players who make supporters just fall in love with the game all over again.
Ardent Cardiff City fans will have seen it all down the years, the grisly, battle-hardened centre backs, the wonderkids, the goal machines and everything in between.
But there is nothing like the feeling when a gifted footballer rocks up at your club and bosses it. And that is what Victor Camarasa did.
Despite Cardiff battling the threat of relegation from the Premier League for practically the entire season, with Camarasa in the team, anything seemed possible.
That strike on the half volley against Chelsea, that worldie against Leicester City, he left City fans imprinted with special memories, even if they fell agonisingly short at the end of the campaign.
The sky appeared to be the limit, but it hasn't all been smooth sailing since he left the Welsh capital...
The Crystal Palace woes
It was no surprise that he left Cardiff at the end of the season and never came back. Few City supporters could begrudge his ambition, because he certainly showed he had the talent to cut it in the top flight.
It wasn't long before the transfer rumours emerged, Mauricio Pochettino at Tottenham was thought to be keen on signing him in the summer of 2019, so, too, were West Ham.
But it was eventually Crystal Palace who landed his signature, signing the playmaker on loan from Real Betis for the 2019/20 campaign.
While it might have looked the right fit on the surface, though, it proved a disaster move for him. Just when his stock was at its highest, the Spaniard was consigned to the bench, watching on week after week as Roy Hodgson's Palace played without him.
Three months into his loan spell, he had just five minutes of Premier League football under his belt. Hodgson said at the time: "He is competing for places in what we regard as an area where we are blessed with players.
"All he can do is continue working and trying very hard to make us think we would be better off with him than one of the other players currently playing there."
WalesOnline understood at the time that Cardiff City were interested in opening up a conversation with him in the January about a potential return back, if it was at all possible.
However, just days later Neil Warnock left and it put paid to that idea.
Camarasa's Palace nightmare came to an end in that January window and he signed on loan for Alaves in the Spanish top flight.
Hitting back with Alaves
It wasn't long before Camarasa was proving once again just what a quality player he is.
He became crucial towards the back half of last season and was a key figure for them, despite registering only one assist in his 17 games there.
But it was a consistent stretch of games which Camarasa badly needed after a watching brief for the first half of the campaign and he appeared to be enjoying his football there, having one of the first names on the team sheet.
And he closely followed Cardiff City, too, sending the Bluebirds a message of good luck on social media when they made it into the play-offs under Neil Harris last term.
All appeared to be on the up for him, but that's when disaster struck once again.
Injury agony
In August 2020, back at his parent club Real Betis and ready to push for a spot, more bad news came his way.
The club issued a statement which revealed Camarasa had suffered an agonising ACL injury and had to undergo surgery, before the season had even kicked off.
“Real Betis player Víctor Camarasa sprained his right knee in training at the end of last week," the club statement read.
"After the evaluation by the Club's medical services and the complementary tests carried out, a rupture of the anterior cruciate ligament of his knee has been diagnosed that will force him to undergo surgery."
Camarasa himself revealed just how painful it was to him when he heard the news it was an ACL tear.
"My knee hurts, but it hurts more I can't help Real Betis," he tweeted.
"The bad feelings I had training have been confirmed and I won't be able to play for a few months.
"I came back to succeed and this will not prevent me. Now it's time to cheer from the outside and come back even stronger."
He has missed 33 games to date this season, however it is thought he is not too far away from a return to action.
What next?
In total, Camarasa has played 19 games since he last kicked a ball for Cardiff City one year and 11 months ago. A crying shame for a man who, at 26, should be at the peak of his powers.
He clearly holds Betis dear to his heart and will want to stick by them for helping him undergo the rehabilitation there this season.
Whether Betis want to keep him remains to be seen, although it is hard to see why they wouldn't given the talent he showed while on these shores.
There is very little scope, one would think, for a return to the Welsh capital, certainly not while in the Championship. Indeed, should City achieve promotion, Wales international Harry Wilson would likely be the preferred option for most.
But, if Mick McCarthy had a work with his old pal Neil Warnock, City supporters would welcome Camarasa back with open arms.
Moreover, though, he won over the hearts of Bluebirds fans and they will doubtless just want to see him playing and smiling once again.
You do not have the required permissions to view the files attached to this post.
Re: The nightmare of Victor Camarasa, the Cardiff City fans'
Wed Mar 31, 2021 2:29 pm
Such a shame how the last two years have panned out for Victor Camarasa. A supremely-gifted footballer in the prime of his career, struck down by injury after being frozen out at Palace
You do not have the required permissions to view the files attached to this post.
Re: The nightmare of Victor Camarasa, the Cardiff City fans'
Thu Apr 01, 2021 1:29 pm
Love that Photo, I know we shouldn’t do the “what if’s” but how much I’d love to have had both of them in the middle this year, hope he recovers well and shows Palace what they missed, he had a real impact on my wife as well 
Re: The nightmare of Victor Camarasa, the Cardiff City fans'
Thu Apr 01, 2021 2:49 pm
Can't understand this Victor love in as as far as I can remember he jumped ship at first chance ????
Re: The nightmare of Victor Camarasa, the Cardiff City fans'
Fri Apr 02, 2021 12:41 am
JulesK wrote:Can't understand this Victor love in as as far as I can remember he jumped ship at first chance ????
one of our better players that season.... and we do not know how hard the club tried to keep him...
but onward and forward and far more concerned with those here now...and happy with how they have performed since the new manager arrived
Re: The nightmare of Victor Camarasa, the Cardiff City fans'
Fri Apr 02, 2021 4:12 pm
JulesK wrote:Can't understand this Victor love in as as far as I can remember he jumped ship at first chance ????
He was only here on loan so probably didn't have a lot of say in the matter plus Betis wanted him to play for a Premiership club.
Re: The nightmare of Victor Camarasa, the Cardiff City fans'
Fri Apr 02, 2021 4:29 pm
JulesK wrote:Can't understand this Victor love in as as far as I can remember he jumped ship at first chance ????
Jumped ship?
Re: The nightmare of Victor Camarasa, the Cardiff City fans'
Sat Apr 03, 2021 12:07 pm
OriginalGrangeEndBlue wrote:JulesK wrote:Can't understand this Victor love in as as far as I can remember he jumped ship at first chance ????
Jumped ship?
