Former Rangers striker Alfredo Morelos credited madcap Colombian cult hero keeper Rene Higuita as he collected a league and cup double in his homeland.
Morelos scored to help Atletico Nacional win the title after a two-legged play-off final and he added the winner’s medal to the Copa Columbia he’d won earlier this month. It means he’s now won more trophies at his loan club than he managed at Rangers – he collected just one winners medal at Rangers when they won the title in 2021 – he was injured for their Scottish Cup triumph the following year.
And Morelos – who had a huge bust-up with former Aberdeen keeper David Gonzalez in the first leg after he asked him whether he was going to come on as a sub ‘drunk again’ – put his new attitude down to famous former keeper Higuita.
Higuita was nicknamed El Loco in his playing career and was made famous by performing his incredible scorpion kick in a match at Wembley against England and is now a coach at his club.
Morelos said: “Rene Higuita met me and made me change my whole mentality. He is a great person. I have no anger now towards David Gonzalez. He apologised because he was angry, I was also angry and I did not accept the apology. But it’s football, I have received many insults in my career, these are things that make you grow as a player. And I celebrated my goal with great passion.
“My personality on the pitch is never going to change. As a player, I will always be like this. People who know me outside of football know I am a good person. To win the Cup and now the League is wonderful and I dedicate it to my family who were always with me in difficult times.
“I don’t need to prove anything to anyone outside. I worked very hard to get these titles, now it’s time to celebrate. My teammates supported me because as a human being, we all make mistakes. And my manager Efrain Juarez has always believed in me. I always had 100% of his confidence, which was the most important thing. Now I am happy, winning two titles with Nacional, we deserve them.”