“This Real de Imanol is fun”

Juan ‘el Negro’ Gómez He is an Argentine txuri urdin. So he literally tattooed the True shield on his body after the happy memory it left on his palm from the years he was in Donostia defending the blue and white team. So, even now, years after his time at the Anoeta club, he continues to talk about Real for the first time. “We have an exciting team.”

How do you see the current Real?

Arguably, we are enjoying the best Real in recent times. I would love to play in a Real team like that. Now I think we have a top team and we are used to traveling in Europe.

It’s been a while since we’ve had Argentinians on the team. Do you want to see again?

I think I have set the bar very high (laughs) and it will be difficult for someone to come along who can match me. No, seriously now, I believe Real is opening up to other markets, and it’s not doing a bad job. I think Rulli is the last Argentine to stand up for himself, but I’m sure there will be someone again soon because I think Argentine drive and character always add up.

Do you have a name that suits La Real?

I can tell you that there is a central defender at River, a 21-year-old kid, Daniel Zabala, who has a great projection and undoubtedly has a future as a central defender for the Argentina team. I think he can be a good element for Real.

At that time, did La Real ask you to do some scouting work in Argentina?

No, actually, that’s what I want. But I was never lucky enough to be given that possibility. And at this point I didn’t expect it, of course. I used to like it, but not anymore.

You left Real for Atlético. Now that Le Normand is playing for that club, what do you think of that possibility?

That always happens at Real Sociedad, who sign ‘cheap’ foreigners, so to speak, and then sell them for more money. Then, when it was time to leave, we left a large sum of money in the club coffers. You can’t always keep football players at the level of Le Normand, especially if there are more powerful teams behind them.

Do you understand that it hurts some realistic fans that he specifically went to that club?

I understand people’s anger when a footballer like Le Normand, who is so loved, and has come out of the youth system, wants to leave.

What do you remember from your time at Atlético de Madrid?

In my case, without a doubt, the club of my life is Real Sociedad. Out of all the clubs I’ve been to, this is my favorite. In fact, I have a tattoo of the club shield, but I’ve been happy wherever I’ve been and I’ve given my best in every place I’ve played. I don’t have the best memories of Atlético de Madrid because an injury ended up taking me off the field. So, in that sense, I cannot give Atlético even 50% of what I can give as a professional and as a footballer.

You got to experience the killing of Aitor Zabaleta as a Real player, before signing for Atlético, what do you remember of that day?

Unfortunately, and I say this with all due respect because there’s a family behind it, I always say that’s the best game I’ve played in my career. Although, later, it turned out to be the saddest game of my career.

In fact, you were the first Real player to go there after that kill. How did you experience it?

The truth is I don’t regret anything I’ve done in my career. Without a doubt, if it wasn’t for Javier Clemente, I might have ended my career at Real Sociedad. Because after all, he was the one who pushed me to leave Real because he didn’t depend on me. And as a professional I want to continue showing that I am strong enough to continue playing in the elite of Spanish football.

Do you have offers from very strong Italian clubs?

Well, I had offers before from Juventus and Milan. And I refused them to stay at Real Sociedad because I was so happy. But that was before. Then the only thing that came up was the Atlético thing and I said to myself: “Well, before putting up with this ‘just’ here, I’ll play Atlético de Madrid.”

What are you doing now?

I work in football player intermediation because of the many relationships I have had over the years in football. Now I’m going with Daniel Zabala as a professional, who is the central defender that was at River that I talked about before.

Recently he was in the tenth anniversary of a Real club in Barcelona. Are you signing up for a bombing for the txuri urdin club?

The president of that club was José Luis Arbas, my friend. More than that, he was a brother that I saw. For me it was nice to accompany him in this important moment for them. And whenever it has to do with my weakness, which is Real Sociedad, I always try to be there.

Did you get along with Imanol and Olabe in the team?

Yes, Roberto Olabe is a great friend of mine, to whom I am very grateful for many things. Whenever I was in Donostia, he took good care of me at home with his whole family. He was actually the first to open the door of his house when I arrived at Real. We have a great relationship, great love for him and his family and I have great professional respect for him. And I also agree with Imanol. I am very happy that things are going so well for him because he is a great person. But more than all that, his team is Imanol’s own image. This is a team that fights, that plays well, that never gives up, that always fights for the important things.

And as a player he was a little shy, according to Toshack.

Yes, it’s a bit strange to see him now shipping as a relatively quiet player. Imanol is quite quiet, but look how he became one of the best coaches in Spanish football. The truth is that I am very proud of him, because for me he continues to maintain the same humility as the moment I met him.

As a midfielder, what do you think of Zubimendi?

Well, first of all, it grew a lot. He is a player with character, with location and with the added value of being from home. I also think he’s a guy who hasn’t reached the ceiling yet. I hope it doesn’t happen, but I think they will steal important teams from us because he is a footballer with a huge projection.

Do you think it would be better for him to continue at Real?

I think it would be very painful if Le Normand and Zubimendi left because they are the main pieces in the team. For Zubimendi, in terms of his progression, it would be very good for him to continue at Real. I think he is a boy who can easily wear the armband because he meets all the conditions: personality, humility, he has many locations, he has dedication, he has everything a footballer needs at Real Sociedad.

And what about Merino?

Merino is a weakness of mine because I think he is a very good player. Maybe he is a modern day Javi de Pedro and I like that kind of football. For that reason, it is also a huge temptation for very powerful clubs.

Now that you mentioned Javi de Pedro, are you aware that he is not having his best moment?

Yes, I’m not only up to date, I’m also sad and sorry for him. Javi is a great person and, in fact, I asked a mutual friend to know what day I could visit him because I wanted to see him before returning to Argentina. I have a lot of rapport with him, but also empathy from knowing that we all make mistakes. Obviously I don’t agree with anything he might do, because I won’t do it. But I have the empathy to know that if a friend or colleague needs a hug from me, I love, if it’s within my reach, to give it to them.