Fabian: “I’ll do the dirty work, flashy football doesn’t touch me” | Eurocup Germany 2024

There was a day when Fabian Ruiz’s life (Los Palacios and Villafranca) changed. However, he did not realize it. “At the time, I did not think about it. Then, with time, you understand.” On August 9, 2017, when Barça followed him to sign him for the reserve team, Fabian scored a beautiful goal in a friendly against Milan. “I came from a loan (Elche) and I was doing well in pre-season,” he recalls. Quique Setién asked him to stay at Villamarín, a year later he moved to Naples for 30 million. Today, he is one of the leaders of PSG, the perfect complement to Rodri in Spain, always present in both areas: he is the top scorer of La Roja (two) and the third to have covered the most kilometers (34).

Ask. Are you a street or academic player?

Reply. On the street. I spent a lot of time playing football with my brother, who is six years older than me, on the street. I always carry this evil with me. He played with stones, between the benches…. With bigger people. Today, we don’t see children playing ball on the street. And when you meet them in the park, they are talking on their mobile phones. It’s a disgrace.

TO. If your t-shirt says Fabinho Will he cost 100 million euros instead of Fabian?

R. This is not something new. It has happened throughout history. We have seen Spanish players like Iniesta or Xavi, who were among the best and won everything, but who were also not recognized.

TO. Busquets.

R. Another example, one of the best in history in his position. I don’t know how to find the reason. But it’s a little more difficult to evaluate Spanish players. Maybe it’s because of the personality of the Spaniard. We are more reserved. Our marketing is not the same as that of players in other countries.

TO. What do you think might change with the arrival of Yamal and Nico Williams?

R. Yes, a little. Because of their lifestyle, they attract a little more attention. They are different. At least more people started talking about us.

TO. Against Germany it will be a match of extremes: Yamal and Williams against Musiala and Wirtz; or you and Rodri as midfielders against Kross and Gundogan?

R. There will be difficulties in all sectors. They have a great team, position by position. In defense, Kimmich and Rudiger; in the center, Kross and Gundogan; and up top, they have six or seven players.

TO. Will the key be winning the ball or spaces?

R. There is space in defence. Germany likes to have the ball, but when they attack they look for space and find players between the lines with ease. And in attack the deciding factor will be the team that can dominate the ball the most.

TO. How do you understand the change of style in Spain?

R. We like to have the ball. You can see it in the games: we come out to play from behind. But when we are in the opponent’s zone, we want to finish the game. In short, you have to use a combination of players who know how to have the ball and those who are more dizzy. Rodri and I have more possession, we are pause players; Niko and Lamin are the speed.

TO. How has Luis de la Fuente changed since you met him in La Rojita?

R. It hasn’t changed. And that’s an advantage for us. We know what he likes and what he doesn’t like. That gives you peace of mind. That allows you to feel free on the pitch. Continue with the same idea, the same personality. He’s close, he’s like a father figure.

TO. do you like it?

R. To me. When the coach talks to you, he asks how you slept, what you ate… It’s the same with everyone, with those who play and with those who don’t.

questionIs your representative a father figure to you?

R. Yes, his name is Rodolfo Orife, he is half Argentinian. I drink mate with him. He is like an older brother to me, my father.

TO. And his father?

RHe broke up with my mother when I was little and I have never had a relationship since. I have always said that my mother is the most important thing in my life. He sacrificed a lot so that I could fight for my dream. I was eight years old, it was not yet known whether I would become a footballer or not, and she was there for me.

TO. Do you think about this often?

R. When you’re a kid, you don’t realize it. At least I didn’t. You don’t think about it and you don’t appreciate it. You think that because you’re her son, she’s obliged (in quotes) to do it. But when I was 16, when I started making my mark in professional football, I thought: what did I do to get here? And then I thought about everything my mother did.

question. Did she work at Betis?

R. After two or three years at Betis, Sevilla showed interest in me. At that moment, my parents separated. She was working in the fields. I had no stability. Then Betis bet on me and offered him a job.

TO. And what was this situation like for you?

R. At first I didn’t see her at Betis because she was working at Ciudad Deportiva in the first team. But when I joined the first team it was a bit weird. My mother worked where I changed.

TO. What could his companions say?

R. A little bit about everything. I was a shy child. But I didn’t find it strange that she was a cleaner, it didn’t matter to me, it was a job like any other. What was strange was that my mother was with my friends every day. But in the end I took it with pride.

TO. Did your wife help you overcome this shyness?

R. My partner helped me a lot, that’s true. She studied psychology. He worked with me, trying to open up a little more, talk, express what I was feeling. He had a hard time with me, but he got through it.

TO. Were these tips more useful to you in life or in football?

R. Through. Before, for example, I had a bad workout, I would come home and lock myself in. He wouldn’t talk to anyone. It seemed like the end of the world.

TO. What did she tell him?

R. That when the game was over, there was nothing more I could do. Let him go. Whether he did it right or wrong, it was over. And that at home it was time to enjoy other things, to be okay with myself, because I left everything on the field. If you spend all night thinking about the game, it will be even worse.

TO. How does a reserved and silent guy like you cope with life in the show business of modern football?

R. I don’t care about flashy football. It’s not one of the things that moves me. I prefer to focus on other players. And I’m left with the dirty work. I feel more comfortable being discreet.

TO. What is dirty work?

A. In the world of football, in the end, the players who play one against one, the fast players like Lamine or Niko, attract attention. And then there are players like Rodri who play a fundamental role in the team and attract less attention.

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