Cuadrado Is Now a Millonarios Player, and He Revealed the Call That Brought Him Back to Colombia

Millonarios treated itself to the kind of signing that doesn't come around every day in Colombian soccer. Juan Guillermo Cuadrado is now officially with the Bogota club, and the team's press room was packed to hear what he had to say.

The player from Santa Marta made no attempt to hide his excitement. He explained how the move came together and who was behind opening the door for it to happen.

I'm very happy to join such a big institution with so much history in Colombia. From the moment Dr. Serpa called me, he opened the doors of this club like it was a family. It means a lot when people reach out and show they want you, that they want to count on you. After talking it over with my family, we decided to take the step and come back here to Colombia. I'm happy to be wearing blue.Juan Guillermo Cuadrado

Now, the big question on fans' minds is where he'll actually play. Cuadrado was honest about it: at 38 years old, he no longer has the same engine he once did, and that factors into where he'll line up on the field.

"At 38, I don't have the speed I used to have, but as I keep training and the coach tells me where I can help the most, I'll work toward that. If he keeps me closer to the box, where I don't have to cover as much ground, that would be important for me," the player said, making clear that the final call belongs to the coaching staff.

A Return with History

This isn't his first stint in Colombian soccer. Cuadrado made his debut with Independiente Medellin in 2008 before heading to Europe a year later to join Udinese. Nearly two decades on, he's back in the country, this time wearing the Millonarios jersey. His last stop was Pisa, where he played 19 matches and scored one goal, in a season that ended in relegation to Italy's second division.

The Colombian also shared how Falcao reacted to the news of his arrival, since the two have shared time together on the national team for years.

He congratulated me. I talked to him. He asked me, "How are you going to go right now when I'm not there?" And I told him, "Buddy, you still have a shot. Get ready, get yourself right, and we'll be waiting for you here so we can play together. We'll see."Juan Guillermo Cuadrado

His arrival adds to a string of high-profile returns that have made waves in Colombian soccer recently, including Juan Fernando Quintero's move to DIM and James Rodriguez's arrival at Atletico Nacional. Cuadrado's debut, however, won't be immediate: he's carrying a suspension from Italian soccer that will keep him out of the opening matches.

"I was sent off in the Coppa Italia, straight red card. I'll have to wait two matchdays, but it's all for the best. I hope to use those weeks to get myself in the best possible shape," the midfielder said.

In the meantime, the team remains firmly in the upper half of the table. Millonarios sits second in the league with 16 points and will host Chico this Saturday, September 19, in matchday 11 at Estadio El Campin, a game Cuadrado will still be watching from the sidelines, though he's already starting to feel like part of it.