• Rubiales Case The "birth" that ended with the captains' statement against Rubiales
  • Selection The bubble of Luis de la Fuente: neither Rubiales, nor Ramos... "Only sports questions"

He is a distant guy with the press, with whom he had a clash almost in his first press conference as a Spanish footballer, just before Euro 2021. Luis Enrique insisted on nationalizing him and he, who had not finished seeing him, accepted. "It's a plus to feel like a nation, but I don't think it helps to play better," he said in this newspaper in June of that year. Aymeric Laporte (Agen, France, 29 years old) is one of those who commands without making noise in the dressing room of the selection, and was one of those who spoke the most on Monday during the writing of the statement where they censored Luis Rubiales. It is worth reading slowly what he says about the issue that captures all the attention these days, just before facing Georgia this afternoon (18:00 p.m.), and it is also worth reading slowly his reflections on why someone like him leaves to play in Saudi Arabia.

How is your ankle ailment? Better, better, I will be available for matches. In the first interview I did in EL MUNDO he told me that he did have a diminutive, but that he only allowed his intimates to call him with that diminutive. Would this second interview be worth to be intimate? No, not yet. How have you experienced the situation these days? Well, it's not an easy situation, but we're a little bit on the sidelines of everything that's happened. In fact, we are very focused, eager to compete, to win again... I don't know if this time it was harder to abstract from all the noise. I don't know, everyone will take it in a way. In my case, I haven't felt any more pressure. Yes, we arrived wanting to talk to each other about what we thought of the situation, but without more. Once spoken, we talk about football, and other things, but not about this. There are sectors, especially on the left, that consider the statement they made "lukewarm" at best. Maybe. There are always opinions for all tastes. When we talk about it, in a group, there are always some who ask for more, others who ask for less, but in the end we had to put out a joint statement and I think it's correct, that's what we all think. It has been said, among many other things, that football is a macho world. Do you agree? Today everything is the same. With the marketing that is being done, with the voices that are being given, I think everything is going a little over the line. It is an over-excess I would say everything that is happening. That if that is sexist, that if that is feminism. Now you can't say a sentence without thinking about the impact it's going to have. That's what's happening in football, which is where the main focus of the media and the people is. As it is, we have to measure everything we say. And that's uncomfortable. Obviously, because since you were little you play football, you don't do interviews. We dedicate ourselves to our own thing and we have to expose ourselves, give our opinion on the news, have to say what people want to hear many times, because if you say what you think you are such and such, they call it this way or another. It's a bit absurd, but it's like that. Can't speak your mind? Or does it censor itself in some way? Sometimes yes. Many footballers do not say what they think so as not to have problems.

Alberto Di Lolli

What can football learn from what has happened? Surely, we have to learn from everything.Can you think of anything specific that you should learn? Have you spoken with Jennifer Hermoso or Luis Rubiales? I exchanged a message with Luis, but nothing more. These things there are coaches who use it to create an external enemy, the press or public opinion, pretending to strengthen the group. To strengthen or to protect ourselves. That's what we were talking about. We have to measure all the acts and all the words to the millimeter, we cannot fail in anything, every day that responsibility becomes heavier. These are things that should not happen, we have to face it in the best way, thinking especially about football, and then not expanding beyond football. What surprised you the most? How fanatical the people there are. I thought it was more passive, but no, they are all football fans. People are dedicated to football. Life is very different, it's very hot, there's a lot of traffic, but otherwise good.What does a top-level footballer like you do playing in Arabia? But there are many more.... Sure, but the interview is with you. Someone like you, who comes from the champion of Europe, and who would have a place in any big league. At this point in my career it's what I thought was best for me.Is there anything wrong with saying footballers go there for money? There is nothing wrong. But are they afraid to say it? In fact, Koulibaly said so. Any worker to whom another company makes a better, economical offer and more things, would change. What happens is that if you do it, a journalist, or any other profession, nothing happens. But about football, and footballers, even my grandmother thinks, who has no idea about football. We are very much in focus. For example, why can't Messi go play, what do I know, to Chile? If it is the best for him, for his family ... Who is anyone to criticize him or say: 'is that as he is very good, he has to play here or there'? Do you think we are not aware of your problems, your concerns, etc...? We have problems and we have everything, like everyone else. People do not respect people's decisions, and in this case that is the respect that there is not in football, the example I gave you of Messi. Here everyone thinks about everything.Do you think that going there can take its toll on the selection? I take my responsibility, I take my decisions. I want to come here and continue participating in this team, I am in the hands of the coach if he wants to bring me or not.

  • Spain national football team
  • Luis Rubiales