How Javier Correa Helped Vozinha Adapt and Win Title with Colo Colo
Javier Correa forged a close friendship with goalkeeper Vozinha after inviting the lonely new teammate to his house for a homemade dinner of polenta and pasta during Colo-Colo’s championship-winning 2026 season.
The Argentine forward recounted how the veteran Cape Verdean goalkeeper struggled with isolation following his arrival in Santiago, according to an interview with Cadena 3 Deportes cited by Dale Albo.
Vozinha had landed in Chile amid a wave of global fame following his standout performances at the 2026 World Cup, where he made history with the Cape Verde national team and nearly eliminated Argentina in the round of 32, as reported by La Nota San Juan.
The club announced the surprising signing on July 24 after club president Aníbal Mosa secured the 40-year-old goalkeeper, as detailed by PrensaFútbol. The club announced the arrival on social media with a message in three languages stating “Bienvenido, Welcome, Bem-vindo” alongside a play on the word “Aura,” according to the same reporting.
Despite the public adulation, the 34-year-old and veteran faced an uphill battle settling into a foreign country without his usual circle of friends, while also dealing with a language barrier and being located over 10,000 kilometers from home, En Cancha reported. He also had to wait behind Gabriel Maureira for playing time under coach Fernando Ortiz, En Cancha reported.
Correa noticed his teammate’s struggles and intervened directly. “Apenas llegó estaba como medio deprimido. Está muy lejos de casa y lejos de su círculo y la explosión mundial de Vozinha. Le dije que viniera a mi casa y que le prepararía un pollo al disco. Lo traje y se llegaba a chupaba los dedos. Non sabes cómo estaba,” Correa told Cadena 3 Deportes.
The forward also recalled telling him, “negro, venite a mi casa: vamos a comer un pollo al disco” and “¿qué vamos a comer?” followed by “pollo al disco, te voy a hacer unos ravioles al disco con pollo, vamos,” as noted by La Nota San Juan.
The casual invitation quickly turned into a bonding moment in the kitchen. “Tengo fotos haciendo el disco y él estaba ayudándome afuera en el patio. Me ayudaba con la linterna, mientras yo revolvía. Es un fenómeno,” Correa added in the Dale Albo interview.
Other squad members also rallied around the newcomer during his initial bench spell. “Lo hemos ayudado bastante a que se adapte más rápido y cuando no le tocaba jugar, le hemos dicho que sea más leve. Invitarlo a comer, traerlo, llevarlo. Cosas básicas y que cuando uno está afuera, las espera de otro,” Correa explained.
The early off-pitch integration paid dividends on the field as Vozinha eventually claimed the starting role. Colo-Colo secured the Liga de Primera 2026 title, adding the club’s 35th star, with Correa and the goalkeeper celebrating the championship together, PrensaFútbol reported.
Following the victory, the squad celebrated euphorically in the locker room at the Nelson Oyarzún stadium in Chillán, where they dedicated their trophy to archrival Universidad de Chile, according to PrensaFútbol.
Vozinha holds a contract through the end of the year that contains an automatic renewal clause if he plays 50 percent of the team’s matches since his arrival, according to La Nota San Juan. That clause positions the goalkeeper to potentially remain with the club for the 2027 campaign with an eye on the Copa Libertadores.
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