I’m a Europa League legend who haunted Man United, ran myself over and was offered out by Antonio Conte
If you were asked to name a team that defines the Europa League, it’s Sevilla. If it was a player, you might think of Ever Banega. The Argentine enigma lifted the trophy three times, all with the side from southern Spain. Banega and the Europa League have a very special connectionGetty But his route to the top was a very strange oneGetty In 2020, Banega took his third and final Europa win with victory in Cologne by beating old side Inter Milan in the final before bidding farewell to top level European football. Now at Newell’s Old Boys in Argentina, the 36-year-old watched his country lift the 2022 World Cup in Qatar having retired from international football years before. However, it’s far from the only time Banega has spent on the sidelines watching his team excel. Moving to Valencia from Boca Juniors in January 2008, Banega, then 19, narrowly avoided the dreaded ‘next Maradona’ nametag having come from the same team and worn the number 10 for Argentina, but the pressure was still there in a €20million move. Things didn’t start well either, with the teenager unfortunately caught on webcam shortly after signing, performing a sexual act on himself, which was quickly spread across Spanish newspapers. Banega had barely had a single training session under his belt before he was front page news, with images reportedly from a chat on an adult website. Despite the embarrassment, Banega put things behind him quickly to excel on the pitch, quickly living up to the hype from Boca, despite his team struggling under manager Ronald Koeman. But just as he’d managed to put the ignominy behind him, Banega was pulled over by police two months later in March, and a club statement was damning. “Banega committed a traffic offence last night and as a result was given an alcohol test where he gave a positive [test],” Valencia said. “Until the details of the incident become clear, Valencia will not make any comment.” Banega arrived to huge fanfare with an incredible reputation back home But he was soon front page news for all the wrong reasonselconfidencial Banega showed moments of class but was shipped off to Atleti, who didn’t even want him either But when he returned to Valencia, the squad was stacked with talentAFP With more alleged training ground incidents of alcohol troubles, the Rosario native was loaned to LaLiga rivals Atletico Madrid for the following campaign, and when he returned, things were very different. Valencia boasted a team with legendary Spain internationals David Villa, David Silva, Juan Mata and Joaquin, allowing Banega’s technical quality to shine through. That was despite the club not even wanting him, with Valencia keen to move on in the summer of 2009. But with Banega back, there were even high hopes of a title challenge with Unai Emery taking over in the dugout, but the current Aston Villa boss was unable to compete with Real Madrid and Barcelona. Banega, though, shone through. He earned a place in the Argentina squad and kept the club going despite the departures of their Spain World Cup winners, keeping Valencia in the hunt. However, in 2012, things came crashing down once more, when he was run over by his own car. The Europa League and Ever Banega was a football love storyGetty But reunited in SevilleGetty The incident at a petrol station reportedly involved the playmaker failing to engage his own handbrake, and his car then rolled back and crushed his leg, requiring ankle surgery and a long spell on the sidelines. That was the beginning of the end for the fan favourite at Mestalla, with his career projection as one of the world’s best seemingly at an end. In 2014, everything changed, linking back up with Emery, Banega joined Sevilla, and with a new level of maturity and even more responsibility in midfield, the team quickly became his own. Triumph in the 2015 final against Dnipro followed, with Banega dominating every opponent, something he did again a year later, beating Liverpool in Basel. So good was the Argentine that Inter came sniffing with him as a free agent, although missing his second home, he lasted only a year in Italy before returning to Sevilla. There the third and final win came in 2020, ironically against Inter, as Sevilla strengthened their status as the competition’s elite with a sixth title, while they also beat Man United in the semi-final. Banega dominated Liverpool in 2016Getty He was soon back alongside Messi for ArgentinaGetty He managed to go unbeaten against United, with this last four clash the fourth and final one in the run. In the final, it seemed like he was enjoying the party before he was supposed to by having fun during the match, taunting his old boss Antonio Conte by saying ‘Let’s see if that wig is real’. Banega’s performance and legacy was the story at full-time, though, mobbed by teammates w
If you were asked to name a team that defines the Europa League, it’s Sevilla. If it was a player, you might think of Ever Banega.
The Argentine enigma lifted the trophy three times, all with the side from southern Spain.
In 2020, Banega took his third and final Europa win with victory in Cologne by beating old side Inter Milan in the final before bidding farewell to top level European football.
Now at Newell’s Old Boys in Argentina, the 36-year-old watched his country lift the 2022 World Cup in Qatar having retired from international football years before.
However, it’s far from the only time Banega has spent on the sidelines watching his team excel.
Moving to Valencia from Boca Juniors in January 2008, Banega, then 19, narrowly avoided the dreaded ‘next Maradona’ nametag having come from the same team and worn the number 10 for Argentina, but the pressure was still there in a €20million move.
Things didn’t start well either, with the teenager unfortunately caught on webcam shortly after signing, performing a sexual act on himself, which was quickly spread across Spanish newspapers.
Banega had barely had a single training session under his belt before he was front page news, with images reportedly from a chat on an adult website.
Despite the embarrassment, Banega put things behind him quickly to excel on the pitch, quickly living up to the hype from Boca, despite his team struggling under manager Ronald Koeman.
But just as he’d managed to put the ignominy behind him, Banega was pulled over by police two months later in March, and a club statement was damning.
“Banega committed a traffic offence last night and as a result was given an alcohol test where he gave a positive [test],” Valencia said.
“Until the details of the incident become clear, Valencia will not make any comment.”
With more alleged training ground incidents of alcohol troubles, the Rosario native was loaned to LaLiga rivals Atletico Madrid for the following campaign, and when he returned, things were very different.
Valencia boasted a team with legendary Spain internationals David Villa, David Silva, Juan Mata and Joaquin, allowing Banega’s technical quality to shine through.
That was despite the club not even wanting him, with Valencia keen to move on in the summer of 2009.
But with Banega back, there were even high hopes of a title challenge with Unai Emery taking over in the dugout, but the current Aston Villa boss was unable to compete with Real Madrid and Barcelona.
Banega, though, shone through. He earned a place in the Argentina squad and kept the club going despite the departures of their Spain World Cup winners, keeping Valencia in the hunt.
However, in 2012, things came crashing down once more, when he was run over by his own car.
The incident at a petrol station reportedly involved the playmaker failing to engage his own handbrake, and his car then rolled back and crushed his leg, requiring ankle surgery and a long spell on the sidelines.
That was the beginning of the end for the fan favourite at Mestalla, with his career projection as one of the world’s best seemingly at an end.
In 2014, everything changed, linking back up with Emery, Banega joined Sevilla, and with a new level of maturity and even more responsibility in midfield, the team quickly became his own.
Triumph in the 2015 final against Dnipro followed, with Banega dominating every opponent, something he did again a year later, beating Liverpool in Basel.
So good was the Argentine that Inter came sniffing with him as a free agent, although missing his second home, he lasted only a year in Italy before returning to Sevilla.
There the third and final win came in 2020, ironically against Inter, as Sevilla strengthened their status as the competition’s elite with a sixth title, while they also beat Man United in the semi-final.
He managed to go unbeaten against United, with this last four clash the fourth and final one in the run.
In the final, it seemed like he was enjoying the party before he was supposed to by having fun during the match, taunting his old boss Antonio Conte by saying ‘Let’s see if that wig is real’.
Banega’s performance and legacy was the story at full-time, though, mobbed by teammates with the fondest of farewells for a legend of the competition.
The enigma finally had completed his job; he’d found his home, proved his status, and was grinning off into the Middle Eastern sunset.
And who would have thought he’d make it – from a misbehaving nuisance, to the King of the Europa League.
Banega won’t be able to haunt United this year though given he now stars for Newell’s Old Boys.
But Ruben Amorim’s side, who completed a sensational 5-4 comeback win against Lyon, will still face Spanish opposition.
This season’s Europa League semi-finals will have them up against Athletic Bilbao, who knocked out Rangers.
Bilbao were the runners-up to Atletico Madrid in 2012 and even beat United in the last 16 en route to the final.
They are in Europe after missing out on UEFA competitions for six seasons and host the first leg on May 1.
Old Trafford will return the favour a week later on May 8, with either Tottenham or Bodo/Glimt awaiting the winners in the final on May 21.
