VALDAS IVANAUSKAS spent months at Hearts trying to cajole Mauricio Pinilla into showcasing his tantalising South American flair. News of the Chilean's new contract concerns his former head coach, who is urging the player to change his mindset or risk wasting his inimitable talent.
As revealed in yesterday's Evening News, Pinilla has signed a new three-year deal tying him to Tynecastle until 2011. The agreement perplexed some fans, who have watched the striker appear in maroon just eight times in two years due to a combination
of illness and injury. Most of those outings, including two goals, came in autumn 2006 during Ivanauskas' tenure.
The Lithuanian would later bemoan Pinilla's depression and general attitude but, at the time, Hearts appeared to have uncovered the proverbial gem; a player who looked truly capable of shouldering the mantle of a cult hero like Rudi Skacel or Drew Busby. A physical presence, two good feet, an impressive turn of pace and a ferocious shot had Scotland's footballing community in awe. But then, ability has never been Pinilla's hindrance.
Depression followed injury and, early in 2007, he returned to Santiago complaining he wasn't mentally attuned to Scottish football. Ivanauskas believes he still isn't.
Earlier this season, the 24-year-old was dispatched to Spain by Vladimir Romanov and Pedro Lopez for £35,000 worth of psychiatric treatment paid for by the majority shareholder. He has managed only two substitute appearances since but finds himself rewarded with a three-year contract.
Ivanauskas has implored him to maximise the opportunity given to him by Hearts and show the club the true depth of his dedication.
"Pinilla is capable of playing in Scotland and being successful but he must want it. I think he needs to show more commitment to Hearts," said Ivanauskas, speaking from his home in Lithuania. "He is a good player, he has real quality. I would not say he is one of the best I have coached but he is very talented.
"It's very difficult to speak about his ability because his mentality is not okay. He must change his life.
"In my time at Hearts he was injured a lot. He played six games and scored two goals and looked a real football player. He can play much better but, mentally, he is not ready for Scottish football. I could see he was an excellent player but his mind was not 100 per cent. If he is staying he must think about the future.
"He is still young and the situation is not easy for him being so far from home. If he wants to continue playing and prove himself as a good player, he must change mentally."
Frequent socialising was one vice Ivanauskas strove to steer Pinilla away from in Edinburgh, yet his best efforts were in vain. He was left seething in January 2007 when the striker flew home to South America, saying at the time: "I am very disappointed with Pinilla, with how he was when he was here, with how he worked and with his attitude. It makes me very angry.
"He is not mentally ready to be here just now and he has gone back to Chile. We are waiting to hear from him."
With Romanov's permission, Pinilla negotiated a loan deal with Universidiad de Chile but managed only a handful of games before being kicked out of the Santiago club following a nightclub incident.
Concurrently, he also incurred the wrath of the Chilean public after a hotel-room liaison with Maria Jose Lopez, the model wife of national team captain Luis Jimenez. Ivanauskas explained the difficulty in managing a player who is occasionally brilliant but often wayward.
"Pinilla arrived at Hearts as an international player with a big reputation. He isn't an easy footballer to coach and every manager must look after him.
"Every manager has his own qualities and you must use everything with Pinilla.
"You must speak with him, include him in the team and understand the Chilean and South American mentality.
"He played some excellent games in the beginning and showed true class.
"He was great for supporters because he isn't a normal player, he can produce something different and unexpected. I can understand how the fans feel now.
"They know he is a good player but he hasn't shown what was expected."
Romanov can usually point to method in his inherent madness. Having negotiated Pinilla's new contract personally, he clearly believes having a 21-cap Chilean internationalist at Tynecastle will bear fruit. Even with the expected side issues.
Part of the Russian businessman's summer schedule will involve travelling Europe, and perhaps beyond, in search of striking reinforcements for next season.
Provided he is managed properly, Ivanauskas argues that Pinilla remains capable of filling voids left by Andrius Velicka, Roman Bednar and Michal Pospisil.
"There is always a chance for Pinilla to be a regular in the team. If he is ready and focused he can be very important for Hearts and the supporters," said Ivanauskas.
"If he changes his mind and his way of life, he can even get back in his national team if that is what he wants.
"This would be good for Hearts because they would then have a top striker playing at his best."
Pinilla is now exclusively Hearts' property.
For a player previously owned 50 per cent by Inter Milan, the time for half measures is well and truly over.
The full article contains 913 words and appears in Edinburgh Evening News newspaper.
