From Magdalena, with a dream
Juan Contreras was born in Fundación, Magdalena, on Colombia's Caribbean coast, where he grew up — like so many kids — with a single dream: to become a professional footballer. He had the talent, but his name still wasn't on the professional radar. No one with the power to decide had seen him play.
“No one had him on their radar. Proyecto Fénix did. Today he's a professional.”
What others didn't see
During a scouting day at Francisco “Pacho” Maturana's football school in Medellín, Proyecto Fénix saw something different in Juan: personality, a competitive edge and a potential that deserved a real chance. It wasn't just talent on the ball; it was the mindset of someone ready to compete. We decided to follow his process and back him.
From unknown to professional
Proyecto Fénix opened the door: Juan was introduced to Real Cartagena, where he began his evaluation and ended up signing with the club. He would later also sign with Unión Magdalena. For Proyecto Fénix this is more than a signing: it's the first story proving that talent can appear anywhere when someone decides to look for it.
