From Cheltenham Town to the Champions League - introducing PSG new boy Yuri Berchiche

From Cheltenham Town to the Champions League. No, this isn’t an unpublished ‘Roy of the Rovers’ story arc but that of Yuri Berchiche. The full back completed his move from Real Sociedad to Paris Saint Germain last Friday to the surprise of many onlookers in England. How did a man who failed to make a single appearance for Tottenham, and only seven on loan at Cheltenham Town, end up signing for one of the biggest teams in the world?

Talented yet troubled

The story of Yuri began at Antiguoko, a small yet successful academy which is a feeder club for Real Sociedad. Xabi Alonso, Mikel Arteta and Aritz Aduriz are arguably their most famous graduates. At 14 the young full back signed for La Real. However things didn’t quite go to plan and just a year later he signed for arch rivals Athletic Club instead.

Yuri’s talent was unquestionable but so was his overzealous attitude. This was less of a problem on the field but off it was a completely different matter. There were disciplinary incidences at La Real but Athletic weren’t put off. They felt the player would mature in a different environment and could learn to control that fire in his belly. However despite his improvement as a player, behavioural problems continued to hold him back.

READ MORE: Ricardo Pereira could join Spurs in £22m

READ MORE: Premier League clubs feeling squeeze

READ MORE: Liverpool target Keita not for sale, say RB Leipzig

After several breaches of discipline Yuri was tasked with cleaning the main stand of the stadium every Monday. This was to teach him that every negative action had a consequence. But those close to the player said the punishment didn’t help, if anything, it made matters worse. Yuri felt embarrassed and hurt.

The tipping point came in 2006 during an academy match. Yuri aggressively confronted the referee after he was sent off. Fellow teammates and coaches needed to drag him away and he was internally banned from playing for four months.

London calling

Tottenham’s scouts were impressed by Yuri’s performances and felt he had enough potential to be worth the risk. The chance to play in England was one Yuri couldn’t turn down. At 17 and with his whole career still ahead of him, he left home for a fresh start.

Everything started off perfectly. Yuri was named ‘Player of the Tournament’ when Spurs Under-18s won the prestigious Eurofoot Tournament in Belgium. Playing alongside future first teamers at White Hart Lane such as Ryan Mason, Andros Townsend and Jake Livermore it appeared Yuri’s trajectory was back on track.

A loan spell defined by a horror challenge

Martin Allen, manager of Cheltenham Town at the time, had heard good things about Yuri through his cousin, Clive. “I went to watch Yuri play against Birmingham reserves and was very impressed.” So much so in fact that he was offered a loan deal until the end of the season. “He was technically very good, very cool and calm in possession. It said a lot about his attitude and personality that he would leave London at just 19 years of age and come to Cheltenham.”

Yuri impressed everyone at the club with his work ethic in training as well as his competitiveness. Often you hear about players dropping down a division or two and finding it extremely tough but it wasn’t the case here. That fiery temper served him well at the club and Allen quickly took a shine to him.

However his time at Cheltenham is largely remembered for his horror challenge on Scunthorpe United’s Henri Lansbury. Initial reports suggested Lansbury, on loan from Arsenal, had broken his leg. This turned out not to be the case but Yuri would only make one more appearance for Cheltenham due to injury issues himself.

Stuck in limbo and released by Spurs

It was at this stage where things hit something of a brick wall for Yuri. Unable to make a telling impression at Spurs he went out on loan again. This time back he returned to Spain with Real Valladolid. He only made one senior appearance for the club and later Spurs decided not to renew his deal.

As is the case for many youngsters hoping to make that leap from the reserves to the senior side, football can often appear cruel. At 20, released on a free transfer, his career was at a tipping point. Did he chuck it in, perhaps look at doing his coaching badges, or simply go back to University? Everyone who has ever met Yuri will know that was never an option.

Starting from scratch

Real Union, a third division Spanish side, saw enough potential to offer Yuri a two-year deal. Eneko Romo, now the club’s director of football, played alongside him during his spell there. “He was a kid with incredible qualities: fast, good left foot, very hard working with a wonderful attitude.” Real Union turned out to be the perfect club for Yuri and helped him get back on track.

Despite his competitive nature, Yuri is quite introverted and likes to keep himself to himself. Maybe this is because of his past discrepancies and he saw it as a method of self-control. Romo was captain at Real Union and feels his experience and advice helped Yuri settle and demonstrate his ability once again.

Stealing the show at Eibar

Real Sociedad saw enough to re-sign Yuri but immediately loaned him out to Eibar in 2012. Under the tutelage of Gaizka Garitano the youngster played a key role as the club recorded back-to-back promotions to La Segunda and later to LaLiga for the first time in their history. Eibar’s promotion sticks in most football fans’ minds and to this day, remains special for Yuri. “I don’t think it’s possible to match those years (at Eibar), they were fantastic.”

He played a key role in shaping Eibar’s history and vice-versa.

If Yuri was a team, he’d be Eibar. Defined by hard work and getting the maximum out of what’s at their disposal. No one doubted Yuri’s ability, more whether he could channel that passion in the correct manner.

At Eibar we saw the first genuine glimpse of what he could do. “He’s one of the best two of three left backs in LaLiga,” Gaizka Garitano said of Yuri’s form last year. “His great form doesn’t surprise me because he’s got a lot of quality. I believed he would go far and he’s worked hard to get there.”

Aiming for the top

Since then Yuri’s gone from strength to strength. That physical, borderline aggressive style hasn’t gone but he’s added intelligence to the timing of his tackles. They are no longer reckless, something which people levelled at him during his youth.

In the first half of last season I can’t remember seeing a better left back in LaLiga than Yuri. Well, apart from Marcelo, although injuries disrupted his opening six months of the campaign. Yuri combined his defensive ability with a cutting edge in attack. Mr Dependable at the back he managed the responsibility on his shoulders like an experienced professional. He was rightly in the running for a Spain call-up but unfortunately missed out.

It’s easier to judge a person for their mistakes than it is praise them for turning it around. Yuri is always going to have a short fuse. He reacted angrily when he was taken off against Villarreal last season but it’s that passion and desire which makes him one of the best left backs in Europe. No one should be happy at coming off. Yuri later apologised both in private and in front of the media.

Hard work pays off with a move to Paris

However for all those who want to hang on to negatives about Yuri, plenty see as it just reward. “His attitude and dedication, professionalism, alongside that grit and desire to train means it’s no surprise to me he’s reached the level he has.” Martin Allen even tried to sign him again when he was at Notts County. “I haven’t kept in touch with him but I’m sure if I want a Champions League ticket, he’ll more than happy to supply me with one!”

It may have taken longer than he would’ve hoped but Yuri deserves his chance to shine. Each stop in his journey has helped him become a better player and a better person. Some stays were short and sweet, others more significant, but all equally as valuable. Real Union brought Yuri in from the wilderness and then the following two years at Eibar provided the platform for him to fulfil the potential everyone saw in him. At Real Sociedad he become a more polished player. All while, at the same time, proving their rivals down the road were wrong to give up on him.

Give up? Those words simply don’t exist for Yuri Berchiche and that’s why, even when he was playing in the Spanish third division just five years ago, he fully deserves his chance at Paris Saint Germain.