Profiles - Aythami
AYTHAMI ARTILES OLIVA
Squad number 2012/13: 6
Date of Birth: 2 April 1986
Place of Birth: Arguineguín, Las Palmas
Nationality: Spain (International with the U-19 squad)
Contract: 2007 - 2015
Transfer: 618,000 Euros (2007, Las Palmas)
Career: Deportivo (2010-now), CD Xerez (Jan 2008-now, loan), (June 2007-Dec 2007), UD Las Palmas (2004-2007), UD Las Palmas youth (2002-2004)
Buy-out Clause: ??
Height: 185 cm
Weight: 79 kg
Position: Defender (centre/left)
With the signing of Las Palmas defender AYTHAMI in July 2007, Deportivo returned to the island for more treasures after the important roles Canarians Valerón and Manuel Pablo have played at the club. Aythami, who is considered to be a major defensive talent, also aroused the interest of Atlético, Recreativo and Getafe. But it was Lendoiro who took most advantage of his contract running out in 2008 and the Galicians took their chance. Now he is called to be a main reference at the team that’s targeting the permanence at Primera.
Curiously, Las Palmas’ coach David Amaral was sacked after that match (which was lost 0-2). But Aythami had made enough impression already and quickly became a starter at the first team. He was even called, as a Segunda B talent, to play with Spain's U-19 national team for a couple of matches. That year Las Palmas finished seventh in Segunda B. But in 2006 the team finished third, leaked just 24 goals in 38 matches and achieved promotion back to Segunda División. After two years at the highest level in Spain (2000-2002), two years in Segunda A (2002-2004) and two years in Segunda B (2004-2006), UD Las Palmas was now climbing back up again. So, Aythami promoted with them to the second level in Spain (Segunda A). Described as a defender who handles the aerial game very well, he also possesses good speed and a solid control of the ball. Overall he's considered as a defender very difficult to get past.
Despite his young age, he already had two years of experience in Las Palmas' first team when aged 20 he made his debut at this next level. Although it was a difficult year for Las Palmas, they survived the season 2006/2007 at Segunda B, just two points of a relegation spot. At this level Aythami also played an important role. He started 31 out of 42 matches and scored the winning goal (2-1) against Málaga on March 3rd 2007. The problem for his club was his contract though. Aythami only had one more year of contract left (until 2008) and Las Palmas' president Miguel Ángel Ramírez tried to extend it to 2012. But the defender refused, because he thought that now it was the right moment to make the step to the Primera División. The situation caused a conflict between player and club as Ramírez threatened him with a place outside the squad for his final season.
This is where clubs like Atlético Madrid, Recreativo de Huelva, Getafe and Deportivo stepped in. Ramírez knew that it was now or never to get something in return for Aythami's departure and was open to negotiations. First Recreativo tried with an offer of €400.000, but this was rejected. Also Getafe couldn't satisfy the demands. Now Las Palmas negotiated a move with Deportivo president Lendoiro. It was 11 July 2007, just some days after Jorge Andrade was sold to Juventus FC and one day after Guardado was signed from Atlas, that the deal was finalised. The transfer sum was established at €618.000 and split up between a payment of €318.000 immediately and two payments of €150.000 later Aythami signed a contract at Deportivo for five years and earning €120.000 per campaign. Although Aythami obviously doesn't have the status of defenders like Pepe, Milito and Jorge Andrade, these players were sold that same summer for respectively factor fifty, twenty-eight and seventeen times the amount of Aythami to Real Madrid, Barcelona and Juventus.
With the signing of this defender from Las Palmas, another chapter in the relationship between the two clubs was established. But there were some problems during the year 2008, because Lendoiro never paid the €318.000 of the first payment, mainly because the Canarian club still owed money to the Galician club. Las Palmas even took the case to the court. Despite the controversy, the defender continued at Depor and later the judge determined that the amount of the transfer should be discounted from the debt had by Las Palmas. The move of Aythami (aged 21) resembles most the one of another defender, Manuel Pablo (22 at the time and born in Bañaderos) in 1998. Both players perform in the defensive line, were young and relatively unknown when signing at Deportivo and can be called 'bargains': Manuel Pablo was signed for the double amount of Aythami. In his first season, Manuel Pablo played about half of the matches in Primera. In his second year he was an undisputed starter at the right side, was crowned champions with Deportivo and attracted interest of some of Europe's biggest clubs like Real Madrid and Internazionale. The defender came together in a package deal with Argentinean striker 'Turu' Flores (27), who would score 22 goals in his first two seasons at Deportivo and was a vital part in the successes of those years. As mentioned before, Valerón comes from the same town as Aythami. He moved in 1997 to Mallorca, later to Atlético de Madrid and in 2000 signed at Deportivo. In the summer of 2004 two other Canarians joined the club, but with less success: striker Rubén Castro (24) and winger Momo (22). Two players made the other way round: in 2000 defender Schürrer went to UD Las Palmas and between 1998-2000, striker Renaldo played on loan at that club. Other Las Palmas talents who were related to Deportivo but eventually signed contracts at other Primera clubs were Guayre (2001, to Villarreal), Jorge (2002, to Atlético) and Angel (2002, to Celta).
Despite the departure of Jorge Andrade, the defensive line of Depor's squad still had central defenders with Spanish international Lopo, Argentinean Coloccini, Fabril's talents Chapi and Piscu and experienced defender Pablo Amo. But Aythami doesn't saw them as rivals, to the contrary. "I'm only 21 and have a lot of time ahead. I can learn a lot from Lopo and Coloccini and I will observe what they do and say on the pitch". Neither did his move to the city of La Coruña worry him. "There are many Canarian players there and things will go smoothly. I have a good relationship with Valerón although we haven't been able to talk yet about my move. I have never played with Manuel Pablo, Momo and Rubén and so I know them less. But I will feel like at home". Asked about the ambitions of Deportivo, Aythami said: "Deportivo are a big club and always are fighting for important things. I think that next year we will play a good season and could qualify for Europe".
But Aythami didn't have a good start at Deportivo, Lotina chose him for the home liga game against Recreativo de Huelva after Lopo suffered a back injury, it's true the whole Depor's squad was terrible that Wednesday's evening (the team lost 0-2 at the Riazor), but Lotina was especially unhappy with the performance of the Canarian defender, reason why he didn't play any other official game during the year 2007 and just witnessed how Fabril's Adrián López 'Piscu' was winning a spot at the squad. Later he only performed for 4 minutes during a Copa clash with RCD Espanyol in January of 2008. That's why the club decided to loan him out to Xerez CD, a club that was fighting to survive at Segunda División. And the move was the right decision, because Aythami was a regular starter at his new squad, He played completely the 20 matches since his arrival and was a key piece in the defensive sector. In the beginning the results were negative, Xerez allowed 12 goals during the first five games in which Aythami participated, but the squad improved and only allowed 10 within the final 15 matches of the campaign, reason why Xerez achieved the dreamed salvation. The Canarian defender even scored a goal during the 2-1 win over Cádiz (April 6th 2008), match that was important since both clubs were fighting for the permanence.
When the season was ending it was rumoured Aythami might end playing at Deportivo B for the campaign 2008/2009, this in case Fabril would have reached Segunda División, something that didn’t happen as Depor’s squad was eliminated in the playoffs. Despite the rumours, Aythami always said he didn’t want to perform at Fabril “If I don’t make it to the first team, I would love to leave; I don’t want to play at Fabril.” Later the Canarian player confessed to reporters that he would love to return to Xerez “I promised to Esteban Vigo –Xerez’s president- that if I have to return to Segunda División, I would do it at Xerez. I am not interested in how the things are made, because my agent is who takes care of this situation, but it’s clear my intention is to go back to Xerez.” And the hopes of Aythami were fulfilled on July 22nd 2008, day in which Deportivo and Xerez CD signed a contract in which the Canarian defender, together with Alex Bergantiños, was loaned to the club from Jerez de La Frontera. The deal was for one year and didn’t include a buyout option.
Again this was the right call, because Aythami was an important piece in the defence of Xerez. The club, which had financial problems and was close to end in Segunda B due the debts with the players, surprised everybody with its performance during the regular season ending first at Segunda División and achieving its first promotion to la liga elite. Aythami made 37 appearances with Xérez and even contributed with four goals scored, one of them against Celta. His performance was always praised by the media and the fans awarded him with the Dos Maderas trophy, award given to the best defender on the season.
But a possible return to Deportivo ahead of the season 2009/2010 was difficult to occur, because the large list of central defender at Lotina’s team was blocking the progress of the Canarian. It was rumoured that the Basque coach was only allowing his return if Lopo or Colotto would have been sold during the summer market, something that never happened. In the end the Galician club closed a new loan deal with Xérez, something that’s allowing to Aythami to play with more regularly at Primera. He was appreciating this chance, as he said at the end of June of 2009, “Xérez counts with me, and I'm very happy, both at the squad as in the city. If I don’t have room at Deportivo, the ideal thing would be to continue on this team. Here I feel valued and confident, and at Depor, don’t.”
But a possible return to Deportivo ahead of the season 2009/2010 was difficult to occur, because the large list of central defender at Lotina’s team was blocking the progress of the Canarian. It was rumoured that the Basque coach was only allowing his return if Lopo or Colotto would have been sold during the summer market, something that never happened. In the end the Galician club closed a new loan deal with Xérez, something tha tallowed Aythami to play with more regularly at Primera. He was appreciating this chance, as he said at the end of June of 2009, “Xérez counts with me, and I'm very happy, both at the squad as in the city. If I don’t have room at Deportivo, the ideal thing would be to continue on this team. Here I feel valued and confident, and at Depor, don’t.”. It was the right call as he was able to play in 30 liga matches been the third Xerez player with more minutes in the competition (2,610). The Canarian even scored two goals, unfortunately Xérez couldn’t resist at the Spanish elite and went down to Segunda.
Once again Aythami returned to La Coruña and the shadow of been discarded again was chasing him, but this time it was different. The competence at the centre of the defence was still strong, with Lopo, Ze Castro and Colotto at the first team, plus the irruption of Fabril’s David Rochela, but Lotina was now accepting the Arguineguín-born defender. The coach had a personal conversation with him and on July 30th, 2010 the same Aythami confirmed that he was staying, “The coach told me yesterday that I´m staying and I’m very happy for it, now it’s time to gain a place and let’s see what happens. I returned in order to stay and let’s hope I would be able to play all my life at Deportivo.”