Juan Espinoza (Ecuadorian footballer)

Juan Carlos Espinoza Mercado (born 23 July 1987, in Machala) is an Ecuadorian professional football player who has played for the Ecuadorian club Liga Deportiva Universitaria de Loja , and in 2010 he joined Peruvian club Juan Aurich.

Juan Espinoza
Max Barrios
Personal information
Full name Juan Carlos Espinoza Mercado
Date of birth (1987-07-23) 23 July 1987 (age 37)[1]
Place of birth Machala, Ecuador
Team information
Current team
Liga de Loja
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2004–2011 Universitaria de Loja[1]
2006Deportivo Cuenca (loan)[1]
2008 → JVC FC (loan)[1]
2009 → Buffalos (loan)[1]
2011 Municipal Cañar[1]
2012–2013 Juan Aurich 12 (1)
International career
2013 Peru U20 4[2] (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

International career

edit

Identity case

edit

In January 2013, he was called into the 2013 South American Youth Championship for the Peruvian U20 team. He played in four games under the name of Max Barrios Prado before it was reported that he had used false documentation that implied that the player was 17 years old.[3] The Civil Registry of Ecuador released documentation showing that the player was 25 years old and married. He was withdrawn from the competition.

The rumors were initially reported by someone who claimed to be a friend of 'Maradona', the former player of Palma de Huacho and the apparent father of 'Max Barrios'. The person claimed Maradona told him that the U20 player was from "Colombia or Ecuador" and that 'Maradona' was not the player's father.[4]

Jaime Villavicencio, President of Universitaria de Loja club confirmed that the player in the U20 competition is the same person as the one who played for Universitaria de Loja.[5] The Peruvian club Juan Aurich has passed information on to their lawyers as the player signed a contract with Juan Aurich using false documentation.[6]

References

edit
  1. ^ a b c d e f Juan EspinozaEcuadorian Football Federation player profile
  2. ^ Max Barrios at Soccerway
  3. ^ "Max Barrios y Juan Carlos Espinosa Mercado serían la misma persona" (in Spanish). peru.com. 24 January 2013. Retrieved 24 January 2013.
  4. ^ "Max Barrios: Cibernautas ya sospechaban de su nacionalidad y edad" (in Spanish). peru.com. 23 January 2013. Retrieved 24 January 2013.
  5. ^ "Presidente de la Liga de Loja afirma que Max Barrios jugó en Ecuador" (in Spanish). rpp.com.pe. 22 January 2013. Retrieved 24 January 2013.
  6. ^ "Juan Aurich presenta caso Max Barrios a la Fiscalía" (in Spanish). peru.com. 23 January 2013. Retrieved 24 January 2013.