“I have bipolar disorder and have been in jail twice.”

JuaneleThe 52-year-old former footballer, who played for Sporting Gijon, Tenerife, Zaragoza, Terrassa and Real Aviles and played for the Spanish national team, spoke about his personal life (he went to prison twice) and introduced book “My Truth” in a programme “Wandering Carousel” belonging SER Network.

My year in prison passed quickly because I was the only one to blame for ending up there.

Juanele in 2018

“I spent 15 years in the elite, and on a personal level what has already happened to me happened. This book speaks my truth… Life is not the color of roses and that is why I wrote this book. I did very good things. and some bad ones,” explained one from Gijon Anton Meana And Sike Rodriguez.

“The truth for Juanele is that I feel very good and happy right now,” Juanele shared.

Juanele: “In Zaragoza I became very depressed and doctors discovered I had bipolar disorder.”

Juan Castaño Quirós (10 April 1971), known in football as Juanele, was one of the greatest talents of Spanish football of the 90s, becoming called up to play at the 1994 World Cup (Clemente didn’t help me at certain moments. He didn’t take me out (didn’t make his debut) because of bullshit).

I’ve come to the conclusion that there’s no point in doing anything

Juanele at MARCA in 2013.

During his time at Real Zaragoza (1999–2004), he was diagnosed with bipolar disorder following depression: “At Zaragoza I had personal problems and sporting problems with Pabo Flores. I became very depressed and the doctors discovered that I had bipolar disorder and I had to take medication.”

“When they told me about this, I took it very badly. I went to several doctors. It’s not easy to deal with,” he recalls.

“It was difficult for me. These were my last years in football and it was difficult for me to come to terms with the fact that I had to leave football,” said the former footballer.

Juanele admits he was close to moving to Barcelona: “They signed Ivan Iglesias”

“There was a moment when I was close to signing a contract with Barcelona. They could sign Ivan Iglesias, Abelardo, Manjarin or me for 100 million pesetas… and it was Ivan Iglesias, a great player. And I went to Tenerife. and so happy.”

Juanele remembers his viral dribbles in the match against Madrid, Hierro’s entrance and the phrase “We are Madrid, and this is not done.”

“We were winning 2-1, there were 10 minutes left, I was trying to hold onto the ball… Until Fernando Hierro came and caught me. He made a strong tackle. Zamorano came up, grabbed me by the hair and told me: “We are Real Madrid,” and this is impossible. They remember this game in Gijon.”

Why did Juanale go to prison twice?

“I spent three months in prison the first time, and a year the second time.”

“The first time I pushed a boy was at a bar. He reported me.”

“The second was because of my ex-partner… I punctured her car tires.”

Juanele describes his experience in prison

“My time in prison did me no good. I didn’t make a single friend. I wouldn’t wish this on anyone.”

“There are mistakes that should not be made, and we should put them behind us and forget them.”

“During my stay in prison, I did not feel alone. My friends came to visit me and I talked to my daughter every day.”

Juanele denies his reputation as a party animal during the game

“I went to a party, as did all my teammates. We walked after the game when we were given days off… I walked like everyone else. Some take the wool, some take the fame. I have this fame. and I overcame it. We were young and we had the club’s permission. I never went out the night before a game.”