“Athletic is very different from other clubs”

Aitor Paredes is a footballer with the brand ‘made in Lezama’. From being the fourth central defender last season, he became the second after the departure of Iñigo Martínez and the injury of the recovered Yeray. A whole life, young, in a red and white key.

Did you aspire to play for Athletic?

When I was young they made me sign with Igumi, I was good, I got to Lezama as a junior and until I was 16 years old, when the Spanish team called me, I didn’t say ‘okay, maybe I have a future here’ . I came to Athletic to learn and have fun, but at that moment, together with my parents, we saw that we still had to take it seriously. Without deviating from your studies, but that’s the moment to say ‘I can still make a living from this’.

Did you also continue your studies?

I started Sports Sciences at Deusto, but I had to leave it because I joined Bilbao Athletic and I couldn’t go to morning classes.

Always international?

Once in U-16 and they didn’t call me until U-18 and then U-19 and U-21 now. Luis de la Fuente is with me in the sub-18 and Santi Denia is with the others.

Therefore, the current coach knows him. Do you see yourself with options to be international one day?

It gives a lot of respect to talk about absolutely. I get along very well with Luis and I hope he calls me one day, but he gives me respect.

In the last U21 European Championship he was at a very good level.

I played all but one game. It’s a unique and special experience because you’re with teammates you don’t know, a coach with a different message. I already liked going with the one from Euskadi because it was a change of scenery. It is unique and special.

Did you suffer a lot in your last year at Bilbao Athletic?

With Gallo (Joseba Etxeberria), the year before, I was sent off in the play off while I was on the bench against Burgos, I had a one-match suspension and I don’t really know what happened to me, maybe something about my ankle, but I started the first games without playing. It was a difficult, different year. I have never experienced fighting for relegation and this is broken. Ima (Imanol de la Sota) didn’t have much luck, Patxi (Salinas) changed the message and luckily we barely got it out. It looked bad and eventually we escaped.

What is it about Lezama’s 2000 generation that promises so much?

We are here Sancet, Julen (Agirrezabala), Imanol. Vencedor, Artola, Ewan are out in the Unionistas, Álvaro Núñez in Amorebieta… We have all reached a fairly high level and this speaks well of what is being done in Lezama. Gorka Agirre, Corporal who is in Sestao with Guru…

What does it tell you that Galarreta is back at Athletic at the age of 30?

That we should not lose hope. Football does not end here. They have always told us that since we joined Athletic. Whether here or abroad we have to enjoy football and if here, it is better because we are at home, with our lifelong team and we are more excited. Football has those things: with one coach you play everything and another coach likes less. You have to keep fighting and working because as you go up, you can go down.

What does playing for Athletic mean?

Special. The thing about Bilbao is that you go out into the street and everywhere there is red and white. In a dealership, on the balcony with the flag, in the bar… Before, I didn’t go to San Mamés because we weren’t members, but when I entered Lezama and they gave us our license, we couldn’t miss it and there I noticed that feeling because Athletic from the Bielsa years, from the old San Mamés, which I loved… Athletic is very different from other clubs.

How does it feel when the game ends in San Mamés and the team sings with the fans?

It’s amazing. Seeing your family in one place, your friends in the cheering stands… When you say Athletic is a family, it is because it is. We were down there, but ours was in the stands having fun with the others. Every time we sing ‘Txoria txori’ it is amazing.

Does he have to play the big brother with Jauregizar, Unai Gómez, Adu Ares and co?

You have to relax them a bit because when they start singing you can clearly tell they are in the entertainment stands. They are crazy and I enjoy watching them. These Bermeos are a bit calmer.

But do they respect gray hair in the locker room?

Yes Yes. The good thing is that the veterans also helped a lot in making that pineapple.