Lanzarote goalkeeper Matías Lago, 18, leaves Unión Sur Yaiza after two seasons in the Youth Honour Division to join Unionistas de Salamanca, where he will combine football with his Physiotherapy studies at the University of Salamanca.
Lanzarote goalkeeper Matías Lago is heading to the mainland. The young keeper, 18 years old, leaves Unión Sur Yaiza after two seasons and signs for the youth team of Unionistas de Salamanca, a club competing in the Youth Honour Division. He will start pre-season training on July 27, but first had to overcome an academic hurdle: the University Entrance Exam. He has passed it and secured a place at the University of Salamanca to study Physiotherapy.
Two years of growth at Unión Sur Yaiza
Matías Lago joined Unión Sur Yaiza at a historic moment for the club: the team's debut in the Youth Honour Division. Since then, the goalkeeper has established himself as one of the key figures in the southern team's goal. His progress has earned him the trust of coaches Ezequiel Vieites and Juan Antonio Machín, and has also allowed him to debut with the first team of Unión Sur Yaiza in the Third Division during the last matches of the previous season.
Before joining Unión Sur Yaiza, the goalkeeper developed in the youth ranks of Inter de Playa Honda and later at Orientación Marítima, where he played two seasons in the cadet category. His leap to youth football came with Unión Sur Yaiza, and now he is taking another step forward in his sporting career.
Unionistas de Salamanca, a demanding destination
Unionistas de Salamanca, the club that has invested in his signing, is entering its second season in the Youth Honour Division. In their debut, the Salamanca team achieved a commendable tenth position in a highly competitive group, sharing the league with the youth teams of Real Madrid, Atlético de Madrid, Rayo Vallecano, Real Valladolid, and Getafe. Next season, the landscape changes: Unionistas will compete in a group with significant representation from Basque teams, including Athletic Club, Real Sociedad, Eibar, and Alavés. A major challenge for the young goalkeeper.
For Matías Lago, the change is not just sporting. Like many young athletes from Lanzarote, the need to continue his university education has forced him to move to the mainland. The decision has not been easy, but the goalkeeper faces it with enthusiasm. "It’s a unique opportunity to continue growing as a footballer and also as a person," says those close to the player.
An example for the youth of Lanzarote
The story of Matías Lago is that of many athletes from the islands who have to emigrate to balance studies and high-level sport. In Lanzarote, options for pursuing a university degree are limited, and the mainland becomes the natural destination for those who want to study without giving up football. The goalkeeper's case is an example of effort and planning: he has secured a place at the University of Salamanca to study Physiotherapy, a degree that will also allow him to understand the human body and prevent injuries, something that will undoubtedly benefit him as an athlete.
While enjoying his last days of vacation on the island, Matías Lago is already preparing for his journey to Salamanca. Pre-season starts on July 27, and the young goalkeeper knows that a year of intense training, high-level matches, and study awaits him. But he is ready. "It’s a step forward in his career and in his life," agree those who know him.
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