Christian Mosquera, the Valencia wall who was always asked for his DNI: "He's a sponge"
«Always bring Christian’s ID because they will ask for it,” were the words of advice given to Christian Mosquera’s parents when he joined the Hercules school in Alicante, Spain, at a young age. Despite his size, which made people doubt his age, Christian has defied expectations and become a talented footballer. At 19 years old, he is now leading the defense of the third team with the fewest goals in the League.
Christian Mosquera, part of Valencia’s ‘Quinta del Pipo,’ has played an impressive number of minutes for a player under 21 in one of the major leagues. He has been nominated for the Golden Boy award and has attracted media attention. His future at Mestalla will be determined by Peter Lim, the club’s owner, as he has a contract until 2026.
Christian’s journey into football was accidental. His parents, Christopher Mosquera and Loreydis Ibargüen, left Colombia 23 years ago and settled in Alicante. Christian initially showed interest in basketball but was introduced to futsal by his uncle. He quickly caught the attention of Hércules, despite his age being questioned by opponents in every game. Valencia recognized his talent and signed him.
At the age of 12, Christian had to leave his family and live in a residence in Paterna, where he continued to develop his skills as a footballer. His commitment and humility impressed his coaches, even when he was benched for a few games due to team selection rules. Mosquera followed the example of players like Ezequiel Garay and Varane, paying close attention to their playing styles.
During the pandemic, Christian faced challenges such as living in the Paterna residence and recovering from an injury. However, his hard work paid off, and he made his debut in the reserve team and later in the first team under Bordalás. His maturity on and off the field, coupled with his love for defending and one-on-one duels, has made him a standout player.
Christian’s performances have caught the attention of the national team, and he has been called up to the U-21 squad. He dreams of representing Spain in the Paris Games and facing off against players like Mbappé and Messi. Despite tempting offers from Colombia, he remains committed to Spain.
Christian’s younger brother, Yulian, also possesses great talent and has played alongside him in the Promises League. Their story is reminiscent of the Williams brothers, who have had successful careers in football.