Carlos Soler’s journey in football is deeply rooted in the wisdom of his grandfather, Rafael Barragán. A football enthusiast himself, Mr. Barragán played a pivotal role in shaping his grandson’s career. In this article, we’ll explore why the Spanish midfielder is often called El Chino and delve into his full story.
Born to Mercedes Barragán and Antonio Soler, Carlos’s passion for football ignited early. At just four years old, he began kicking around a ball during halftime at his brother’s matches with Bonrepòs. His impressive power on the field caught the club’s attention, though Carlos was initially too shy to join. It was a Game Boy gift from his grandfather that finally persuaded him to commit.
Now, let’s uncover the full story behind Carlos Soler’s rise to football stardom.
El Chino Revealed: The Life Story of Carlos Soler and His Football Beginnings
Preamble:
This article on Carlos Soler’s biography explores his early years and family background, including details about his parents—Mercedes Barragán and Antonio Soler—and his sibling, brother Alejandro Soler. It also highlights the influence of his grandparents, Rafael Barragán and Amalia Barragán, and his relationships with Cristina Torres and Marta Marchena.
Carlos Soler’s story covers his early life, from his birth to his formative years, shedding light on how he rose from a young football enthusiast in Valencia to a national hero. To give you a deeper understanding of his journey, we’ve included a gallery that illustrates his evolution. Dive into Carlos Soler’s biography and discover the remarkable path he has traveled.
The Story of Carlos Soler: How a Game Boy and Grandfather Shaped a Footballer
Carlos Soler Childhood Story:
For Biography starters, he bears the nickname “El Chino.” His nickname came about from the story of Bill Wong, a Chinese American from California who quit his engineering job in the late 1950s to become a bullfighter in Spain.
On Soler’s part, he had to leave his schooling, as we would see later on, to dive into his loving sport.
Carlos was born on the 2nd day of January 1997 to his Mother, Mercedes Barragán, and Father, Antonio Soler, in the third-most populated municipality in Spain, Valencia.
He was born on a fateful Thursday among his older brother, Alejandro Soler, from the blissful marital union between his dad and mum. Now, let’s introduce you to Carlos Soler’s Parents.
Meet Carlos Soler’s lovely Parents – his Mum (Mercedes Barragán), and Dad (Antonio Soler).
Growing-Up:
Before his birth, Carlos had an elder brother, Alejandro, who had an intense love for soccer, just like their father and grandfather. Therefore, it was only natural for the youngster to fall in love with the foot game when he was born.
There is no way to mention the growing-up moments of the dazzling midfielder without mentioning his attractiveness for football. He played first with his family members before playing with his peers and elderly ones.
The earliest picture of Carlos Soler with his dad and their pet.
Born in Valencia, the city helped to shape him into what we know the Spaniards to become today. A charming and loveable individual who was a friend of all.
Though shy at first, Carlos became bold as soon as he got familiar with the people he came in contact with, which is usually built by playing football together.
Carlos Soler – A charming and loveable individual who was a friend of all.
Early Life:
Born in Valencia, Soler was first introduced to football by taking shots at half-time at four during matches for Bonrepòs, his brother’s team.
Fascinated by his power, the club demanded him; he was initially too shy and only joined when his granddad gave him a Game Boy to attend.
He joined his hometown club Valencia’s youth setup. Four years after that, in 2005, he initially worked as a creative striker but later shifted back to an attacking midfielder and central midfielder.
Family Background:
To start with, the Valencia-born midfielder grew up in a football-loving household. First is his grandad, Rafael Barragán. We’re not sure he played professionally, but his passion spread over his children and grandchildren.
Next, is Carlos’s father, Antonio Soler, who has devoted himself to Carlos becoming a professional football player.
Likewise, his mother, Mercedes Barragán. But then, as much as there is no factual information about their respective vocations, the family seemed well-to-do.
Not forgetting his elder brother, who is also a professional footballer. While he was playing for Bonrepos FC, Carlos got discovered and caught taking shots during half-time.
On another note, it is pertinent to state that Carlos Soler’s family is a closely knitted household. He so enjoyed his household’s full support.
Carlos Soler Family Life:
So generous and kind, the Spaniard can boldly beat his chest to say that he has become what he is today because of the direct and indirect influences of his nuclear and extended family members.
In a speech Carlos wrote about for his grandad, he points out how proud he is and how his late grandfather would always have a place in his heart.
Again, remember the input of his father, mother, and brother. Now, let’s tell you more about the members of his household.
His income stems from his football career and others from his endorsements.
Carlos Soler Father:
The Valencia native’s dad, Antonio Soler, is a massive lover of Soccer. Indeed, he is a football encyclopedia. Perhaps because of his taste for football, Carlos could have ended up as a Sports Journalist and not the other way around.
Nonetheless, Antonio Soler was instrumental in the star that Carlos has become today. He saw the talents of his children and made it a priority to see them to their fruition.
Carlos Soler’s father still supports his sons’ career by attending most of their matches. He follows the games in the company of his affectionate wife and partner, Mercedes. The duo has two sons together, Ajehandro and Carlos.
A childhood photo of Carlo’s photo with his dad,
Carlos Soler’s Mother:
Mercedes Barragán rarely gets media headlines if not for her son, Carlos, fame, and publicity. Nevertheless, her backing and tender loving care have allowed the childhood dream of her children, especially that of Carlos Soler.
To encourage her sons, she tries to be present at essential matches featuring any of her kids.
Mercedes Barragán, also a Spaniard, joins her hubby, Antonio, to devote time and energy to the actualization of the destiny of their children. Her unwavering support is worth emulating. No wonder why her sons, Alejandro and Carlos, love her so much.
Carlos with his amiable mother, Mercedes Barragán.
Carlos Soler Siblings – Brother:
This section of his Bio will break down more facts about his brother (Alejandro Soler) since there is no sign that he has a sister. So, without further ado, let’s begin.
Alejandro Soler is the older brother of Carlos. Also born in Valencia, the duo share a common ancestry and history. Likewise influenced by family, he first took an interest in Soccer and played the game as a profession.
Alejandro Soler is the older brother of Carlos.
Alejandro played for a Spanish team known as Bonrepos. While Carlos followed his elder brother to one of his matches, someone noticed the power-packed football shots that Carlos took during half-time of the match.
The duo shares the same childhood and maintains a close bond.
Carlos Soler’s Relatives- Grandparents:
Not forgetting the inputs of his relations, Carlos Soler’s grandfather, Rafael Barragán, enjoyed playing and watching the football game. We cannot overemphasize his place in helping Carlos venture correctly and quickly into football.
One of the primary reasons Carlos made it at the Bonrepós and Mirambell Grassroots Soccer School was the promise his granddad, Rafael, made to buy him the much-desired Nintendo Game Boy.
In addition, Carlos’s grandmother and Rafael’s wife is Amalia Barragan. The duo lived happily and ensured their children and grandchildren fulfilled their respective dreams. Sadly, Mr Rafael Barragán died peacefully and has since been buried.
Carlos’s grandmother and Rafael’s wife is Amalia Barragan.
Carlos Soler Family Origin:
As fondly called by his loving fans, El Chino is a Valencia native. So, he has a Spanish nationality. Besides, Carlos and his elder brother, Alejandro, grew up there (Valencia, Spain).
In addition, his parents, Mercedes and Antonio, identify Spain as their country. Therefore, in Soler’s name in the culture Spain represents, his first name is his paternal surname, Soler. Meanwhile, his second name, his maternal family name, is Barragán.
Carlos Soler’s hometown, Valencia, enjoys robust economic growth, and tourism and the construction industry spur much of Valencia’s economy. Next is a vivid representation of Soler’s heritage.
This map aids your understanding of Carlos Soler’s origin.
Carlos Soler Ethnicity:
The Spanish midfielder identifies with the Castilian ethnic group, part of Spain’s major ethnic groups. His native town, Valencia, is among the oldest cities in Spain, founded in the Roman period, and Valencian and Spanish are the two official languages.
Carlos Soler Education:
As much as he wanted to go to school like every other kid his age, his chosen football career could not allow him the much-needed time and space.
He started playing at the Bonrepós and Mirambell Grassroots Soccer School after his grandfather, Rafael, invited him to join a federated team for the Nintendo Game Boy he wanted so much.
He was there until 2005, and at 7, he entered the Valencia Club de Fútbol Academy. Carlos Soler struggled to finish his elementary education and so progressed to start a degree in Sports Journalism at the University of Valencia.
Soler studied journalism and aimed to become a sports journalist, although it was not excessively vocational. But then, he still needs to finish his studies.
Furthermore, as part of his home education, watching the Premier League matches as a kid helped him learn the art of team spirit and discipline while playing. As well as learning how to speak the English language.
Carlos Soler Biography – Football Story:
By January 2018, Soler confirmed his third fresh contract with Valencia in over a year, clinching him to the club until 2021.
He totalled 51 appearances from 2018 to 2019, including 13 in his launch European season in the UEFA Champions League and Europa League. Carlos scored a goal in group-stage wins over Young Boys and then Manchester United in the former.
He played seven matches in the year’s Copa del Rey as Valencia emerged winner for their first honour in 11 years and assisted Rodrigo’s champion in the 2–1 final victory against Barcelona on the 25th of May 2019.
Celebrating in a pix, Valencia win their first honour in 11 years
Carlos Soler Bio – Road to Fame Story:
Marching his way to fame, Soler belonged to the Spanish Olympic team that took place in the delayed 2020 tournament in Japan. He finished with a silver medal. Later, in August 2021, he got called up to the senior team for games against Sweden, Georgia, and Kosovo.
Again, he played for the national side of Spain and Under-19, U-21, and U-23 levels. After this, he made his international professional debut on the Spanish national team on the 2nd of September 2020.
Pau Torres, Marcos Alonso, Aymeric Laporte, Eric García, Hugo Guillamón, César Azpilicueta (RB), Unai Simón, Arsenal’s David Raya, Arnau Tenas, Jordi Alba, and Dani Carvajal played with him in Spain’s national football team.
Early professional life:
The sensational Spaniard midfielder made his senior appearance with the reserves on the 3rd of May, 2015. He started in a 1–0 Segunda División B away loss over Cornellà.
Carlos Soler then scored his first senior goal on the 13th of December, scoring his team’s second goal in a 2–2 draw at Badalona.
After this, his La Liga debut was in 2016. The youngster scored his first goal in the category the following the 21st of January, scoring the first goal in a 2–0 Valencian Community derby victory against Villarreal at the Estadio de la Cerámica.
The sensational Spaniard midfielder made his senior appearance in 2015.
Carlos Soler Biography – Rise to Fame Story:
On the 1st of September 2022, Soler confirmed to join the Ligue 1 club Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) FC on a five-year deal. The Valencia native made the big switch to France with Paris Saint-Germain to last till 2027.
We bet he can’t wait to take on the pitch with Neymar, 2018 World Cup winner Kylian Mbappe, and, of course, god himself – Lionel Messi!
He made his debut five days after that as a late-match replacement in a 2–1 Champions League home triumph over Juventus. On the 18th of September, he played his initial league game off the bench in a 1–0 victory at Lyon.
Furthermore, Luis Enrique, the head of the Spanish national team, called him to be a part of the 2022 FIFA World Cup team in Qatar.
Luis Enrique, called Soler, to be a part of the 2022 FIFA World Cup team in Qatar.
Soler was a reserve serve for Spain in their opening 2022 World Cup game against Costa Rica. He replaced Pedri in the 57th minute and scored in the 90th minute in their 7-0 Triumph.
Love Life with Marta Marchena:
Looking at his personal life, Carlos Soler is not married. However, the Spanish star is not single. He is reportedly dating a beautiful girl, Marta Marchena, and the football star has shared pictures with her on his social media accounts.
The Lucky midfielder is dating the astonishingly sexy belle from Seville, Marta Marchena. The Spanish beauty has close to 100,000 followers on Instagram, so it’s safe to say she’s got more than a few admirers!
As many would say, she is Carlos Soler’s girlfriend and, possibly, his wife-to-be. Let’s introduce you to Carlos Soler’s girlfriend.
The Lucky midfielder is dating a sexy belle from Seville, Marta Marchena.
Who is Marta Marchena?
To start with, Carlos Soler’s wife-to-be is a lady with an alluring appearance. Our findings show that Marta Marchena is a socialite, blogger, and Instagram star.
After dating the Spanish singer Antonio Jose for five years in her former affair, she got thrust into the public eye.
Carlos Soler has no children yet, and he has yet to settle and build his family.
After this, she met Carlos Soler and fell in love. In addition to her profession, she runs a consulting firm in Seville known as The Insight Media Consulting.
A gigantic dog-lover, she has an increasing number of over 91.6k followers on her Instagram account with over 300 photos. Furthermore, Carlos Soler has no children yet, and he has yet to settle and build his family.
Personal Life:
Carlos Soler’s parents, including himself and his elder brother, lived humbly in their family house in Valencia. Despite the substantial financial growth, the household plus Carlos remains simple and down to earth.
Guess living in France for a while has influenced his taste for drinks. He enjoys Red wine a lot. His charming personality has attracted lots of fans around the globe. His verified Instagram account @carlos10soler alone has over 330k followers.
Hobbies:
During his spare hours, Carlos devotes himself to listening to music and singing (“he loves to do it in English; Coldplay drives him wild”). He also enjoys swimming to keep a relaxed mind and playing video games, which he started right in childhood.
Next on his hobby, born and raised in the city’s heart of Valencia, he loved to play chess and tennis. However, as his friends say, soccer has flooded his routine from a very young age. In addition, the celebrity player loves animals and has a dog as a pet.
According to reports, Soler loves getting information, listening to the radio, and reading the media. So, he knows all the journalists. Guess why he first ventured to study sports journalism?
He also enjoys swimming to keep a relaxed mind and playing video games, which he started right in childhood.
FIFA Stats:
Carlos Soler is known for his speed and direct approach on the field. He moves efficiently around the midfield to get the ball, showcasing a blend of skill and strength that allows him to retain possession and push forward into the opponent’s defence. This ability disrupts their structure and helps create opportunities for his teammates.
His quickness and sharp vision make him a challenging player for opponents to predict, particularly during offensive transitions—a key component of Valencia’s counter-attacking strategy. Interestingly, Kylian Mbappé has noted that while Carlos Soler is an impactful player, he has a different style compared to Neymar.
His pace and vision make him a valuable asset in offensive transitions – a crucial phase in Valencia’s counter-attacking style.
Lifestyle:
Speaking of the way he lives, the Spanish midfielder is not someone who is materialistic. His income stems from his football career and others from his endorsements.
Soler always wants to share part of his wages with family members. He does find time to take his girlfriend (Marta Marchena) to the best European destinations.
His income stems from his football career and others from his endorsements.
However, necessity has laid on him to own a few luxury properties and automobiles. Carlos Soler manages a property in Paris, France, and holds a Mercedes G-Wagon as his favourite car.
The least-expensive 2022 Mercedes-Benz G-Class is the 2022 Mercedes-Benz. G-Class G 550 4dr SUV 4WD (4.0L 8cyl Turbo 9A) is about $139,900. On a lighter note, his mother, Mercedes, shares the same name as his favourite automobile.
Untold Facts:
In the final section of Carlos Soler’s Biography, we’ll display more truths you might not know about him. So without further ado, let’s begin.
Why is he called El chino?
Interestingly, the Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) Football Club player is fondly called El Chino by his devoted fans and teammates.
The name possibly came about after the story of Bill Wong, a Chinese American from California who quit his engineering job in the late 1950s to become a bullfighter in Spain. The Chinese American was called El Chino.
Carlos Soler Religion:
The Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) FC midfielder belongs to the Christian faith. Catholicism is everywhere in Spain, and we can see its influence in churches, and of course, but also in everyday life, with religious holidays and festivals.
So, Like 95% of Spaniards, Carlos Soler is possibly Catholic. Each city, metropolis, and village in Spain has its patron saint.
EndNote:
While his full name is Carlos Soler Barragán, his nickname is “El Chino.” He is a Spanish professional football player who plays as a central and right midfielder for the Ligue 1 club Paris Saint-Germain FC and the Spanish national team.
Carlos began his professional career at Valencia, passing 226 appearances, scoring 36 goals, and gaining the Copa del Rey in 2019.
The soccer star was born on the 1st day of January 1997. Soler’s birthplace is Valencia, Spain. His parents are Mercedes Barragán (his Mum) and Antonio Soler (his Dad).
Also, a professional footballer, Ajehandro Soler, is his older brother. Carlos’s grandpa, Rafal, shaped his childhood and football career. Not to mention, Marta Marchena is the girlfriend of the Spanish midfielder.
He started playing at the Bonrepós and Mirambell Grassroots Soccer School after his grandfather, Rafael, invited him to join a federated team for the Nintendo Game Boy he wanted so much.
1 He was there until in 2005, at 7, he entered the Valencia Club de Fútbol Academy,
where he scored over 845 goals playing as a striker until the coaches moved his position back to midfielder.
The 2015-16 season was already a fundamental piece in the first Valencian branch, although he actively participated in the UEFA Youth League with Miguel Ángel Angulo’s Juvenil A team, scoring three goals in 8 games.
At the time of drafting the History of Carlos Soler, they recommended him alongside notables like Barcelona’s Sergio Busquets, Marcos Llorente (CM), Yeremy Pino (LW), Cesar Azpilicueta etc.
These footballers represent some of Spain’s most noteworthy hope in their quest to win the 2022 FIFA World Cup.
Appreciation Note:
We acknowledge you for taking the time to learn about our version of Carlos Soler’s Biography. We endeavour to bring fairness and truthfulness to deliver European Soccer Stories. Carlos Soler’s Bio is a product of our collection of Spanish Footballers. Surely, our memoir on Lee Kang-in and Abel Ruiz will excite you.
Kindly contact us via remarks if you find anything that doesn’t look right in this narrative about the Athlete nicknamed El Chino. Also, use our comment space to tell you what you think about the PSG midfielder’s career and the unique content we’ve written about him.
