Mexican striker Ruby Soto says Spanish football has helped her grow

Robbie Soto, striker for Chivas de Guadalajara of the Mexican Women’s Football League, confirmed on Friday that his time at Villarreal in Spain helped him to mature and be more consistent.

“I grew up, I matured a lot more. Now I know what it’s like to be away from Mexico and watch other football. I learned a lot of new things, and I was surprised when I saw another style of playing, training and working until I became a regular player,” he explained in a press conference.

Soto played for Spanish club Villarreal for a year in which he achieved the team’s first promotion to the Iberian Women’s Football First Division.

The 25-year-old striker became the first woman to train in the Mexican league to be signed by a European soccer team.

Robbie Soto admitted that he decided to return to Chivas, a team he reached at the age of 15, due to the growth that professional sports had brought in his country.

“The league is growing a lot and everyone is looking forward to it here, they are aware of the potential you have. A lot of foreigners also want to come and play here and who are in the US and Europe I think it’s because they see a high level.”

The player, who was Chivas’ top scorer for two years with 20 goals, denied that her return to Mexico would be a setback in her career.

“I’ve grown a lot and learned many things like another level of play, another kind of training, it helped me a lot and now I come to contribute to the Chivas and my teammates, to put everything I’ve learned at their disposal in Spain.”

Chivas was left with runner-up in Clausura 2021 after being defeated in the final by two-time champion Tigres UANL.

The forward confirmed that she sees more maturity and a thirst for victory among her Rogblanco teammates, which will be key to her aspirations during Apertura 2021 in which Chivas will make her debut on Monday against San Luis.

He concluded by saying, “It is a more mature and competitive team, and it wants to excel and achieve what is always required, which is another cup and we hope to achieve this championship.”