Jhon Duran: The story of Colombia striker’s rise from Envigado to Aston Villa after Bayern Munich win

Envigado are a club who pride themselves on their academy and conveyer belt of talent.

Their slogan is ‘Cantera de Heroes’. Cantera translates as quarry but in a football sense is used to describe academies.

Since being formed in 1989 they have yet to win a major trophy – but have produced several Colombia internationals and Champions League players such as James Rodriguez, Juan Fernando Quintero, Mateus Uribe, Fredy Guarin and Yaser Asprilla.

Earlier this year the CIES Football Observatory said Envigado were second only to Athletic Bilbao in the world for giving the most opportunities to youth players.

So the ideal club for Jhon Jader Duran – as he is known in his homeland – to join at the age of 11. It was a tough start though as he left his family’s home in a barrio in Colombia’s second-largest city Medellin to pursue that dream.

Things improved, however, when the club brought his family to live with him in an apartment.

“Fortunately, he managed to have the nucleus of his family close to him,” said Perea, “a very humble, hard-working, honest family. Very good people.

“He is temperamental in the game, but he is a person who is very close to his family.

“Many times it is not what is reflected on the playing field. Jhon is a noble, calm person and you have to get to know him a little more inside.”

Perea was the coach who decided to change Duran from a winger to a striker and used to show him videos of top strikers – including Villa and Colombia icon Juan Pablo Angel.

“Jhon was sometimes difficult. At times it was somewhat complicated, but I knew how to manage it,” said Perea.

“For me, it was very important to understand the person and then to understand the footballer.

“That was an important detail because one understands his childhood has not been easy, it was not easy at all.”

Perea tells a story of going to Duran’s school to get permission for him to play in a national tournament.

“The principal told me ‘if you find him in the classroom, I’ll give you permission!’ So I entered the classroom and Jhon Jader was missing class.

“He had stayed at home listening to Reggaeton music.

“I left that school furious to look for him at his home. I almost grabbed him by the ears.”

Duran broke into the Envigado first team at the age of 15 – and became the second youngest player to score a Colombian top-flight goal not long after.

Perea said: “I knew he was going to be a great player because he believed in his convictions, and he knew he could do great things.

“He managed to direct his talent because we knew that he could give much more. The truth is that it fills me with a lot of happiness because he has achieved great things.

“Thank God, who gave us enough wisdom to direct this great human and this excellent footballer.”

Months later Duran caught the eye of a former Blackburn player and his upwards trajectory was about to continue.