On Monday 30 December Hugo Sotil passed away. Born in Ica in Peru on 18 May 1949, ‘Cholo’ as he was known, was considered one of the best South American players of his generation, and was a from fan favourites at Barça during his time at the club.
The striker came to Barça for the 1973/74 season from Peruvian club Municipal de Lima. Sotil was a vital part of a team that included legends such as Cruyff, Asensi, Rexach and Marcial. He became a favourite of the Camp Nou crowd who would chant “Cholooo, Cholooo” in his honour. That season, in April 1974, when Barça had finally claimed the league title away at Sporting Gijón, Sotil’s phone call to his mother has passed into blaugrana legend, the Peruvian shouting, “Mum, we are…