Sebastián Cáceres leaves América for Celta Vigo after nearly seven years in MLS

Almost seven years is enough time for a lot of things: to debut without quite knowing what to expect, to win titles, to go through horrible stretches, and eventually to become a World Cup player. That, in short, is the story of Sebastián Cáceres at América, a chapter that now comes to a close as the Uruguayan defender packs his bags for Celta Vigo.

Before boarding his flight, Cáceres took a moment to speak with the press and look back on his time with the Eagles. He arrived in February 2020, right at the start of an era he himself describes as full of ups and downs: there were good moments, bad ones, and some that were downright very bad. But he says the balance comes out positive, because it was precisely this club, América, that opened the door to something few Uruguayans ever achieve: playing in a World Cup.

And he's not speaking in the abstract. Cáceres was part of the Uruguay squad that competed in the 2022 World Cup, something he directly credits to the level he showed while wearing the América jersey.

It's almost seven years in the end, because I arrived in February 2020, and I went through everything: good times, bad times, very bad times, but without a doubt everything this club gave me opened the door to a lot of things, among them fulfilling the dream of having played in a World Cup.Sebastián Cáceres

The defender went even further and allowed himself to imagine what might have happened if his career in Mexico had taken a different path. For him, growing up at a club like América is not the same as growing up at any other team in Mexican soccer, and that's part of the reason, he believes, this opportunity in Spain's LaLiga has now opened up for him.

Probably at another club in Mexico I don't know if they would have looked at me so favorably. And now, this opportunity also exists because I'm here, well, I was here, so I'm going to thank the club and I'll always follow them because they were a huge part of my life and the team that helped me grow.Sebastián Cáceres

A farewell to the fans too

Cáceres is well aware that his name sparked debate among América supporters. Not every stint at Coapa is remembered the same way, and he knows that. Still, he prefers not to dwell on the negative and instead chooses to remember the messages of support he received in recent weeks, especially from fans who would have preferred to see him stay with the club.

He acknowledged that his relationship with the fan base was never unanimous, something he accepts calmly: he understands that everyone has the right to their own opinion about his performance. What he does value, and made a point of saying so, is the affection from those who wrote to him saying they didn't want him to leave.

With that balance, gratitude, a bit of nostalgia, and the satisfaction of having fulfilled a dream, Sebastián Cáceres closes his chapter at América and begins a new stage in Spanish soccer, this time wearing the Celta Vigo jersey.