Belo Horizonte, Brazil, August 10, 2020 – Minas Tenis Clube is expected to field a fairly young roster in the 2020-2021 edition of the Brazilian Superliga, but the team will be led by a very experienced player as the Belo Horizonte side has signed veteran setter William Arjona.
A Rio 2016 Olympic champion, the 41-year-old setter will play for the ninth different club in his long career after spending the last three seasons with Sesi. William will share the court with fellow national team member libero Maique Nascimento, but most of his teammates will be younger players developed at the club.
“My goal is to give my best and help Minas to be in the finals and to compete for titles,” he said. “The club has a long tradition in developing great talent and I want to give my contribution, share my experiences and help them to become better players.”
A silver medallist at the 1996 FIVB U21 World Championship, William made a big mark at two of the clubs he has played for, starting with Argentina’s Club Bolivar, where he played between 2006 and 2010and won four national and one South American title.
The setter, who got the nickname El Mago (The Magician, in Spanish) during his time in Argentina, then moved to Sada Cruzeiro Volei, where he collected several titles between 2010 and 2017, including three FIVB Volleyball Men’s Club World Championships, five Superligas and four South American Championships.
William first joined the Brazilian national team in 2011 and, alongside an Olympic gold, has won several other medals, including a silver at the 2018 FIVB Volleyball Men's World Championship.
The best setter of the last nine editions of the Superliga and the Most Valuable Player of the 2016 FIVB Volleyball Men’s Club World Championship, William is excited to join Minas, one of the most traditional clubs in Brazil.
“It feels like my career wouldn’t be complete if I didn’t play for Minas,” he added. “I’m really honoured and excited to play at the Minas Arena, which I think is the best venue in the country. The club also has great staff and structure, so we have all we need to develop great work here.”
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