-Do you cry with injustices?

- The last time I cried was watching a video. That of Paco León [filmmaker] with Serigne Mamadou [seasonal worker in Lleida who denounced the terrible living conditions of his group]. Tears fell. By how he expressed himself. Because of injustice ...

Keita Baldé, 25, was born in Arbúcies (Girona). She also lived in Sant Celoni and Santa Maria de Palautordera. She has scored goals in the lower categories of Barça, a club that she had to abandon to vindicate herself between the polygons and the hard asphalt of Cornellà. Even today it runs through its streets. Fame and recognition have already arrived in Italy (Lazio, Inter). Now she earns a living in Monaco. But he rejects all bubbles. All you have to do is look back.

How did your father come to Spain? He was very young. He arrived in Barcelona from Senegal. He did it by plane. He had a cousin in the Maresme area. Then he brought my mother and all her children, including me, we were born in Catalonia. We are six brothers. My father took life to get to Europe, to Spain, and work to find a better future for everyone. My father was not temporary. He worked in construction. Where did they live? In a humble apartment. As most people live. I was not missing much. I was happy with what I had. My parents did everything possible so that from a young age we did not miss the main things. They are very hard-working and humble people. And everything they have today has been thanks to their sacrifice. Those values ​​have been instilled in me and my brothers. Each one has his life already. Suffering, but always fighting. Can a child feel different because of his skin color? The good thing about my childhood is that I never experienced that difference personally. I always had friends from many places and races. I never felt different. I went to everyone's house, my friends came to mine. I never experienced racism as a child. Really not. Football has helped him have a better life. Yes. One hundred percent. What if I hadn't? Many thoughts come to mind. But surely something would have been done to have a good life. Although it was otherwise, now he feels privileged, what has come to me has been playing soccer, yes. And I caught the opportunity with both hands. I am privileged, yes, but because of the family I have. For the friends around me. Not because of being a footballer. What does money mean? Money is one of the problems of this world. Classify people. If you have a ticket you are someone. If you don't have it, you are nobody. We live in a polluted society in that regard. The person's real value is lost. It's sad. I was happy before, when I had no money. And I am happy now. I have been happy all my life. My parents gave me the minimum. But it was always enough. Why did you decide to help the temporary workers in Lleida? After seeing the problem on social networks, I studied the subject. I felt that I had to do something, that I had to help. I got in touch with them. But I did not want words. I did not want to speak. I wanted facts. There were people who needed it. Are you surprised that no one helped those temp workers before? It doesn't surprise me. Nothing surprises me in this life anymore. I have seen many things. But it is something that others should do. That should be done by other people. But there are still good people who want to help. How do they live? In subhuman conditions. They slept in the street, between cardboard boxes. They work 13 hours a day for 25 euros. They have to buy food, find a place to sleep ... You can't. It's very hard. They are people who come to earn their bread. That does not steal from anyone. And in Spain we need hardworking people in the fields to collect the fruit. We need them. But if you do not treat who works for you well ... Is it true that many hotels refused to welcome you despite the fact that you paid for your stay? Some hotels were closed due to the coronavirus, others did. We wanted to rent other buildings and there were also people who refused. I had not yet come to light. I wanted my help to be anonymous. But given the difficulties we had, I had to face it. Why did they say no? Why do you think not? Maybe they didn't want to rent anything to a colored boy. I do not know. They will know. What was the solution? We spoke to the City Council. We found some places [like pavilions and premises] and we also looked for hotels so they could be there. At the end the doors opened a little. I am helping 150 people. I have given them accommodation, clothes and food for three months. Why didn't you want anyone to know that you were after that help? I wanted to help and that's enough. That they managed it from there [through activist Nogay Ndiaye]. The message is more important than the messenger. How do you explain that people who come to work sleep on the street? The country goes like this. We should take a look at this topic. In Italy and Portugal, for example, they have regularized workers with social security and letters of residence so that they have rights. They have valued them and put them where they should. That has not happened in Spain. I do not know why. Perhaps because of the country's management. Then, each town has its mentality. They will know. But it is not pretty for Spain. It's where I was born. Do you see a problem of racism? Call it what you like. I did not want to get into the subject of racism, only to help. But all life has been and will be racism. We are all born equal, with values, with respect. I always hope there is less racism. But it will continue to exist. Is there no cure for racism? I would invest all the money I have earned to find a cure for racism. But it has to do with how you are educated, how you grow. You can't control it. That comes from within, from the heart. And there are very ignorant people who go through life like this. But I hope the day will come when we won't have those problems again. Have you followed the protests around the world for the murder of George Floyd? They are things that mark you. People are tired. In the demonstrations there were not only blacks, but people of all races. It is a fight for human rights, because they are treading the system. We are asking for nothing but security and to be able to live calmly and with dignity. We do not want to harm anyone or steal from anyone. People are tired. Black lives matter. It is the motto: They matter if your name is Keita Baldé. But if you are a temporary worker in Lleida, your life does not matter. Can social pressure change things? Let's hope. We only ask for justice for people who do evil or for people who do not do the right thing. Nothing more. What did your family tell you? He is very proud of me. She knows everything I do for people. I do a thousand things. What do you mean? In Senegal I have financed the construction of a school and a mosque. In Europe I have also helped with the pandemic. Sadio Mané - a Liverpool soccer player - and I was received by the President of the Republic of Senegal. People will be able to go to pray. And the children, with that school, will not have to do so many kilometers on foot to be able to study. I like to be like this. Since I was little I am like this. A boy at heart, and to share. If a neighbor needed something, why not help him? How did he do it? He distributed the clothes that Barça gave me at the end of the year [he arrived at La Masia when he was nine years old]. The boots that Nike sent me also gave them. He shared everything in the neighborhood. In the square. There are so many stories ... But they stay there, in the memory. Tell me a dream. Perhaps it may sound arrogant to you. But I'm already living my dream. I don't want to dream anymore.

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