Spanish trialis is former Ugarte team-mate

Last updated : 01 August 2005 By Charles
The young Spanish player Wrexham boss Denis Smith is looking at this week is a former team mate of Juan Ugarte at a successful youth club in the Basque region Antiguoko.

The 23-year old central defender, Álvaro Parra Dioni, known as Parra, grew up in the same area as Ugarte and played with the youth teams at Antiguoko, a club that has produced 12 current professionals including Mikel Arteta (Everton), Xabi Alonso (Liverpool) and Iraola (Ath. Bilbao).

What we know about Parra himself is he is 23 years-old, from San Sebastian, stands 1.82m tall and weighs in at 75kg.

His playing career has seen him turn out for three different senior clubs in the north of Spain at Aurrerá Vitoria, Beasain and Figueras (home to Salvador Dalí) before returning to Beasain. These teams playing in the 2ºB Division and Third Division, which are regional third and fourth levels.

He is reported to be a 'good and strong player'.

Another former player with Antiguoko is Spanish international Francisco Javier De Pedro, who was at Blackburn Rovers last season before departing for Perugia in January.