Uruguayan football has outstanding legends of the sport. Figures like Enzo Francescoli and Luis Suárez and Edinson Cavani, led the Celeste to shine in international tournaments. However, there are also promises that fail to meet high expectations. Among them, the history of Robert Flores, who was once compared to the iconic Francescoli.
With a promising start and a talent that led him to EuropeFlores was seen at the time as one of the great talents of his generation. Despite the ups and downs, his career took him back to his country, where he continues to play and live a life away from the spotlight that once pointed him out as the “new Prince.”
The career of Robert Flores
The young promise was born in Montevideo, Uruguayin 1986, within a family that always supported him in his sporting aspirations. From a young age he showed a special talent for soccer, and his passion led him to join the youth categories of the Club Atlético River Plate of Uruguay. His skill on the ball and his intelligence in the game quickly attracted attention in his native country, where he stood out as one of the best players in the league in the 2007/2008 season.
His professional career took off when he was elected the best player in the Uruguayan championshipor, surpassing other talents. Thanks to his brilliant performances, in 2008 he was signed by the Villarreal of Spain, an opportunity that he himself described as “a dream come true“. His performance in the Spanish team attracted even more attention from the press, who began to compare him with the legendary Enzo Francescoli, a comparison that Flores tried to avoid. “I would love to be a fourth of Enzo, but I want to make my own path,” he confessed at the time, trying to tone down expectations.
That same year, he was summoned to the Uruguayan national team by the technician Oscar Washington Tabárez to play in friendlies against Türkiye and Norway. His debut with the Celeste was in May 2008, a special moment for him and his family. However, although he showed flashes of talent, he failed to establish himself in the Uruguayan team, and his time in the national team was brief.
After his time at Villarreal, Flores was loaned to River Plate from Argentina, where he would try to meet the expectations that the press and fans had placed on him. After his experience in Argentine football, he returned to Uruguay and later played for different teams in Latin America, including National of Uruguay, Palestino in Chile and Sport Recife in Brazilwithout achieving stability in any of them.
Robert Flores and his time at River
In 2008, the player joined the millionaire, a club that was then led by coach Diego Simeone. The arrival of the Uruguayan generated great expectations, since the local press labeled him as the “new Francescoli.” Flores made his debut at the Monumental in a match against Colonwhere he scored his first goal and generated great enthusiasm among the fans.
However, his time at River was not what many expected. After a good start, the team had a difficult season and finished at the bottom of the table. The team’s situation also affected Flores, who found himself with a locker room in crisis and an unfavorable environment for its development.
After a year at the club, where he scored only two goals, Flores returned to Villarreal without having managed to stand out as expected. “It was strong, but I tried not to let the comments affect me. I just tried to do my best,” Flores said years later when remembering his time in the ring.
Retirement and return to Football: what Robert Flores is up to
After his experience in Argentine soccer and after a decade of traveling between different clubs in America and Europe, Flores decided hang up his boots in 2022, Tired of the competitive environment of professional football. In an interview, he commented: “I felt that the clubs focused more on business than on the teams.” Thus, he decided to move away from the fields and open a barbershop in Montevideo, a business he started with his brother-in-law and a friend.
Despite his retirement, his passion for football did not abandon him. Flores played again shortly after, this time in Coopera promotion team in Uruguaywhere he continues to compete, although in a lower category. Currently, Flores is also preparing for what could be his next chapter in the sport: being coach. “We are doing the technical course together, and I think he has everything to be a great coach,” revealed his colleague and friend, Zambrana.
Source: Ambito
I am Pierce Boyd, a driven and ambitious professional working in the news industry. I have been writing for 24 Hours Worlds for over five years, specializing in sports section coverage. During my tenure at the publication, I have built an impressive portfolio of articles that has earned me a reputation as an experienced journalist and content creator.
