The world of bullfighting woke up this morning to the sad news of the death of Paco Camino, one of the greatest bullfighters in history. And one of the people closest to the maestro was Juan Antonio Alcoba 'Macareno', who remembers him with emotion. “He was a phenomenon,” he tells ABC. The Leana of Camas acted as a witness in his substitution in 1969 and was godfather at the confirmation in Madrid that same year. “I met him when I fought with Diego Puerta and him my alternative in Valencia. That same year he confirmed it to me in Madrid with El Viti.”
Later, when they both lived in Madrid, “we saw each other very often, and that's where our friendship began, and forever.” They had long conversations and tents: “I went to all the meals he prepared on his farm, and when he came to Madrid we always went to eat together. “He was a great person, a great friend and as a bullfighter he was a phenomenon.”
At close range, Macareno describes him as “a friend of his friends.” “He was always great and very cordial to his people.” Of course, he never cared about anyone he didn't like, “he was quick to push an enemy away.” He always went through life head-on and was “a very clean, very legal man.”
The same as with the bull. As a bullfighter, “of the bullfighters I have seen, he was the best, the most complete.” Thanks to his wisdom, he had a great cloak, an extraordinary sword and a great ability with the crutch. Within all this, Macareno highlights his greatest virtue in the face of the bull: «He sees the bulls very quickly. When I saw them on the way out, I already knew what to do with them. “I had studied bulls very well.” A great bullfighter with hard-to-surpass data and a privileged head has left.