CM: Joan Luque – Spain
Joan Luque looked to be a real prospect up until a point. He started out at San Pedro Lumen and UD Bon Pastor, and at the age of 10, he had the football world at his feet. Catalan giants Barcelona wanted to have a look, and Guillermo Amor, head of Barca’s youth system, told the youngster that he was convinced he could be a Barcelona player if he really wanted it.
He spent two years at Barcelona but didn’t make the grade, dropping down to play youth football for Damm, Gramanet, Europa and Cornellà. He featured in the Copa del Rey Juvenil for Cornellà as they beat Real Madrid in the first leg of the second round, with Álvaro Morata, Pablo Sarabia and Dani Carvajal all lining up against him.
He made his first senior appearances for Gramenet B, scoring 8 times in the Primera Catalana. At the end of the season, NIKE selected him as one of the 100 best players of Catalonia. He then played for numerous clubs, including CF Montañesa, Vilassar de Mar, FC Santboià, Sabadell B, and Heybridge Swifts.
He found his way to England after former Gramanet teammate Guillem Ramón suggested a trial for a group of Spanish players on English soil. He impressed, earned a deal, and set about making a name for himself. He extended his Heybridge contract to the end of 2018/19, but with his dream of playing in the Football League, an Imps trial was too good of an opportunity to turn down, and we signed him on a six-month deal.
He played three times for the Imps, with one minute of Football League action. However, like Sterge, he scored in the EFL Cup against Championship opposition before moving on.