Former Barcelona star Pedro 'Papi' Perlaza first spotted Manchester United winger Antonio Valencia as kid playing in Guayaquil.

Perlaza ran a local academy and immediately offered a place to the young Valencia's family.

Perlaza said: "He was a great player and very strong, although his brother Edder was in even better condition. But Luis Antonio has always been disciplined and wanted glory. I always said he was going to be a pro footballer but, at first, Antonio had no pressure hitting the ball. But patience and dedication paid off.

"I remember we would put 14 balls in a line and make him hit seven dishes in the goal without a goalkeeper. This work paid off."

The pair lost contact, but when Valencia returned to Lago Agrio in July and played in a charity match with the many graduates who have been nurtured by 'The Daddy', he invited Perlaza to an international match in Quito. Valencia met Perlaza and talked for hours. Valencia arranged to send equipment to his mentor's latest football school in Esmeraldas.