January 1 stands for Paul Guerrero more than the arrival of the new year. On this day, the “Predator” celebrates another anniversary of its birth, which took place in 1984 (hence the name of the 84-strong generation of which he is the greatest representative along with Jefferson Farfán). This 2023, with 39 years in tow, everything indicates that the historic goalscorer of the Peru team is entering the final stages of his footballing journey, although he himself is reluctant to publicly admit the possibility.
“Thank you God for another year of life, for a year of sad times and happy times and for much learning. 2023, I’m just asking that I go back to doing what I love to do most… That’s all I’m asking of you… and at a high level,” the striker’s message tweeted on his social media accounts.
The main problem a footballer faces in trying to get a club back (whether in a ‘high’ league as he would like or in another tournament) are the irregularities he has been the victim of in recent months . In 2022 he made just 10 appearances with Avaí for the Brasileirao and of those he only managed to complete 90 minutes in two.
Message from Paolo Guerrero on his birthday. Photo: Instagram
Going further back in time, since he arrived in Brazil in 2012, the ex-Aliancista’s career has been full of ups and downs: in the same year of his arrival, he gave Timao the Club World Cup title in that tournament with two goals and held a Paulistao and the Recopa Sudamericana in 2013. However, financial disagreements led him to join Flamengo in 2015 with whom he won a carioca championship.
Del Mengao came out in 2018, the year the TAS sanctioned him with several months without a game following his alleged doping with the Peru team. After his relationship ended, he moved to Internacional de Porto Alegre where he had some good streaks but failed to capitalize on them with a title and it was at this club that his lack of continuity and goal drought definitely started (he doesn’t score). due to duels officially since August 2021) because of a physical problem that affected him in mid-2020.
That year saw Guerrero enjoy one of his best starts to the season in Brazilian football, with three goals in the same number of games. What looked like a joyful season was suddenly cut short by a ligament injury in his right knee, which saw him miss the rest of the league season and the start of the Qatar 2022 qualifiers.
Junior: “Paolo Guerrero could play for Flamengo now”
He only returned to the pitch in March 2021, but either due to a lack of rhythm after all that time of inactivity, or due to the consequences of his physical ailments, he played little for Inter and even less for the national team. When he parted ways with the Colorado team in October, it was clear that unfortunately for his fans, but especially for Paolo himself, he would not be the same as he was before his injury.
The final months of 2021 and the first semester of 2022 have been purely a period of physical reconditioning for Guerrero. In July, when his injury seemed to be a thing of the past, he could have returned to Alianza Lima, but he preferred to accept Avai’s offer and put the sporting aspect before the economic one.
What happened to him at León de la Isla is already known: he had few minutes, failed to score, was relegated for the first time in his career and suffered a recurrence of his illness. All of this caused the Brazilian team not to renew him, a decision that led to his presence as a free agent.
Paolo Guerrero joined Inter Porto Alegre in the 2019 season Photo: Porto Alegre International
Currently, with no known team or rumors linking him to a club in Brazil, Peru or any other country, the goalscorer entrusts himself to heaven to continue doing what pleases him best. “I know you, God, want it; I know a lot of people don’t want it, but I know you will make me want to come back and do it in the best way,” reads the last part of the message he sent for his birthday.