by Stuart Crowther

Date: 30th May 2002

Who wants to be stuck in Edinburgh for 3 years? Not Ulises De La Cruz it would seem... AS REVEALED BY HIBS.NET SOME WEEKS AGO, Ulises de la Cruz is not keen to return to Edinburgh after the World Cup, with the Hibs defender looking for a move to Spain or Italy on the back of some decent performances for Ecuador in the World Cup Finals. Comments attributed to De La Cruz as he prepared for the finals were largely ignored in Scotland, but the player repeated them again yesterday and it is now clear that if it comes down to any sort of choice, he will not be back in the Capital to see out the remaining 3 years of his contract.  In a statement that will shock many Hibs fans, De La Cruz told reporters as he prepared to face Italy in his countries first-ever World Cup finals match: "I am now 28, and this World Cup is the first opportunity I have had to land a contract in Spain or Italy.  Those are the countries I want to play in.  I have three years left on my contract in Edinburgh - but who would want to stay there?" These are words that will be seen as a slap in the face to Hibs fans who had remained loyal to De La Cruz during his first year at the club, a year during which his international commitments always came before those of Hibs, who bent over backwards to make life as easy as possible for their South American star.  Prior to departing for World Cup duty, De La Cruz indicated in an interview in the Edinburgh Evening News that he was looking forward to the 'new challenge' with Hibs next season, in particular since things had settled at the club with the appointment of Bobby Williamson as manager.  However he was days later telling newspapers in Ecuador that he had no intentions of returning to Scotland after the finals, and was already looking for a move from the Scottish Premier league with Spain or even England being a preference. De La Cruz - seeking a move to Spain or Italy De La Cruz has set his sights high, saying: "I have always followed Italian football on TV. AC Milan are the Serie A team I support, while Barcelona are my favourites in Spain.  They are my dream destinations.  If I went to Spain I would enjoy myself - they have a lively style of play that I like."  And in a comment that will be seen as a slap in the face to Scottish football in general and Hibs in particular, De La Cruz added:  "If I was to join an Italian club, I would learn all about tactics." These latest comments will come as something of a blow to Hibs boss Bobby Williamson, who will no doubt wish to have a quiet chat with De La Cruz when he does return to Edinburgh.  The Hibs boss has continued to do all he can to make life easier for De La Cruz, and last night Williamson confirmed that the player was not expected back in the Capital until a week after the rest of the squad resumes training on July 4th.  Williamson said: "Ulises will start back later than the rest of the boys, probably a week or so after them. You only have to look at the schedule he’s endured to see why he was tiring mentally and physically a bit towards the end of the season.  He’s been all over the place and that takes it’s toll although he’s had that target of helping Ecuador make the World Cup finals for the first time to aim for." Clearly unaware that his international star had other ideas, the Hibs boss was looking forward to working with De La Cruz next season as he said: "I’m sure that after the World Cup he’ll want to get away from football for a few weeks but after that I’ll be hoping he returns refreshed after a successful World Cup.  Rod Petrie will speak to his agent and advise him when we want Ulises back but, with the amount of football he’s played, we won’t have to work him as hard."  It would appear that if Ulises has his way, Hibs will not have to work him at all.