Javi Puado: "I want to return to Europe with Espanyol"

BarcelonaJavi Puado (Barcelona, ​​​​1998) is the son of a striker from Alcalá de Henares who arrived in Barcelona thanks to Jaume Creixell and stayed for love. Trained at La Masia and in the Cornellà youth academy, he has been playing for Espanyol for over a decade, the club of his life and where he wants to leave his mark. The hero of the promotion to the First Division against Oviedo and of last season's agonizing salvation, he is very clear that he would reject Barça. Just renewed with the parakeet team, which has made an effort to turn him into its straw man and the "ideal captain" of a project that is looking up after years of wandering in the wilderness.

What a peaceful international strike.

— For the team and the fans, these have been days of calm and celebration, celebrating the seven points out of nine we have. We're happy, but this is a long way off. The goal is to save ourselves. Many people tell me on the street, "This year in Europe." Well, we have to keep our feet on the ground. If we can do great things, let no one doubt that we'll fight to achieve them.

Did you have better offers than Espanyol's?

— There were teams above me in the standings, but if Espanyol was saved and a good project was carried out, I wanted to stay, because it's my home.

At the renewal ceremony you said you would like to be one club man.

— It's great to spend your whole life at the club that made you a professional, and for the fans to recognize that you've felt a love for the colors. But you never know; sometimes you just can't say no.

You have the goal in your blood.

— My father [Francisco Javier Puado] played football and was a forward for Osasuna, Salamanca, Sant Andreu, Vilanova, Vilassar, Hospitalet, etc.

In fact, you were born in Barcelona because he signed for Sant Andreu and stayed to live in Catalonia.

— [laughs] Exactly. It's Jaume Creixell's fault, which takes him to Sant Andreu, and my mother, who met her in Barcelona.

He's like a psychologist to you, right?

— I've said it before, yes. Look, he's never told me to do this or that, but he advises me on how to improve on and off the field. I also consult him on important decisions, because he's been involved in football his whole life.

Was your first club Barça?

— The Barça school. I played for two years as a junior and then played in the youth system from the U16 B to the U17 A. I'm still friends with Aleñá, Olmo, and Oriol Rey. I signed for Espanyol as a youth player and had previously played for Cornellà.

You recently said you wouldn't sign for Barça. This caused a stir, especially on social media.

— [laughs] No one needs to come and tell me, "But they don't want you." I know, they don't want me, but the question was, "What if they came looking for you?" In the conditional sense. So I answer how I feel. But come on, you know how social media is.

Do you understand Joan Garcia's decision?

— Yes. It would be a different case, because he's younger than me and hadn't been in the first team for that long, although he was already important. I thought he'd leave, but I was surprised he was at Barça.

And do you understand Espanyol fans?

— Of course. How many players have gone from Espanyol to Barça? Very few. And most weren't as important as him, not even a month before they were kissing the badge. It's normal for fans to be hurt.

In 2017, you were packing your bags to go to Madrid's reserve team. What happened?

— Even my coach said so in a press conference. I was leaving for Madrid on Monday to sign and stay, but Chen said that if I had the talent to go to Madrid, I could make it to Espanyol's first team.

Do you still combine football with your studies?

— Yes, I'm studying business administration and management at the University of Barcelona. I'm taking it slow, taking a few subjects per year. Now I just need to finish my fourth-year electives and submit my final project. I'll be graduating soon.

Can a First Division footballer lead a normal life?

— I do it. I go for coffee with lifelong friends, from Colegio Salesianos de Rocafort, to the university, or for a walk downtown. I don't live in a bubble. It also depends on the team you play for. In the big clubs, the level of exposure is greater.

What dream do you have with Espanyol?

— It doesn't have to be this year, but I want to return to Europe with Espanyol. The last time, in 2018, I only played in the qualifying rounds because I was loaned to Zaragoza, and I'd love to experience it. The Europa League, the Conference League, would be great... And if it were the Champions League, it would be incredible, but it's very difficult.