David Raya, the most ungrateful role in the World Cup: "If nobody knows me, better"

• Group E. This is how Spain reaches the last day

The first thing that attracts attention when greeting

(Barcelona, ​​27 years old) is a tremendous bruise under his right eye.

Question.-

Has there been a fight?

Answer.-

No no, it was a hit.

It turns out that in a recent training session,

shot, the ball hit the post and went straight into the eye of the third goalkeeper of the team, although he denies that definition, but that will come later.

The fact is that the

goalkeeper was, in March this year, the big surprise on Luis Enrique's list for two friendlies against

.

Immediately, the

departments of all the media began to create a story that, if a simple search is done today on

, reflects: Who is David Raya?

That was the title of all those news stories.

«Deep down it is normal,

, and I have spent almost my entire career in the Championship [English Second Division], which is a competition that is hardly seen in Spain, "he answers naturally.

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But who is David Raya?

He is a boy from Cornellá, who while playing for

took advantage of an agreement that this modest club had with

to go there to try his luck as a youth.

He stayed and went up the steps.

One of them was the transfer to

, something like a Preferred in Spain, where he had a memorable game against

(Second Division) in the

.

He returned to Blackburn, made his debut in the first team and two summers ago decided to try and go to his current club,

, with which he achieved promotion to the Premier.

They saved the category last year and this course they march in a comfortable tenth place.

I had no idea, we go back to the month of March, that

was going to call him.

«He was training, we were just changing exercises and the coach came up from behind to tell me.

He had no idea," he says.

You have to return to

in this World Cup.

For ordinary mortals,

.

The third goalkeeper, player number 26, does not have, a priori, any option to play, and yet he has been focused like everyone else for more than two weeks.

He denies the major.

«I don't see myself as the third goalkeeper, I see myself as another goalkeeper for the national team.

.

It is a position like the rest of the players, that there are several in each position on the field, although in goal it is more difficult to have minutes, "explains a guy at high speed who the other day, when Luis Enrique gave them off, left to eat

with his parents, his two brothers, his girlfriend and his representative.

It is evident that he says what he has to say, but the conclusion, in any case, is that the boy is doing well, assuming his role, as everyone in this group does, because

.

David is another of those examples of what a sector of the press uses to define this team, not always with respect: players unknown to the general public.

Soccer players who could walk down Madrid's Gran Vía without anyone asking for a photo or an autograph.

Q.-

Does that bother you?

R.-

Annoy?

On the contrary.

It's perfect for me that they don't know me, I prefer to go unnoticed.

If no one knows me, better.

David Raya, in training. PABLO GARCÍAFEF

He has been in England for 11 years now, and of course, most of the fans around the house don't watch the Premier, let alone the Championship.

It is not the only thing that causes David the fact of having been playing abroad for so long.

«Having been away for so long makes you value more the fact of playing for your country.

I am used to international and English changing rooms, and I have had some Spanish teammates, but I missed the Spanish grace.

», He says, without delving into a Spanish feeling that he proudly exhibits, without half measures, from doors inwards.

And out.

Sitting in front of him takes the look, after the bruise, to the tattoos.

He has a lot.

... On the fingers of his right hand, the O for Oscar, a fist, a ball and a heart.

"They are the emoticons that my brother always sends me before the games," he explains.

"I have the space already chosen, but I haven't been able to yet."

On the left side of his neck, one of those you can't see.

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