ADE student Jon Rojo (12-22-96) hopes to finish the race coinciding with his first season outside Bilbao Athletic. The left-back was formed at the Danok, passed through the Deusto de Tercera and at the Atletico Madrid has played 58 games, with 5 goals in Segunda B in the last three courses. He aspires to the maximum before clearing his immediate future: “Every step forward I have molded myself well and I think I am prepared for it,” he launches in an interview for El Correo.
– Danok Bat, Deusto and Bilbao Athletic in his career. At the moment, concise at 23 years old.
– Yes, in the Danok I was from the age of twelve until his Junior of Honor. I signed to do the preseason with the Barakaldo coached by Movilla and, as a young man and my first year senior, I made the decision to leave on loan at Deusto. I knew people from the club and I knew it would give me confidence, since I needed to play. I did it in two years playing practically everything and it helped me to stop at Bilbao Athletic. At the moment, few teams.
– Has being left winger benefited you?
– Yes, it is a demanded position today, in Athletic and in the Basque Country. It is a very specific position, the competition is less, it is true, but you have to work as everyone, I guess.
This season is the least played, 13 games, 10 of them starting. Or Rojo or García de Albéniz in the line-ups of Joseba Etxeberria …
The first year at Bilbao Athletic I had less participation (there was Andoni López), it was a year of adaptation, last year I devoted myself and performed in practically every game, which has been my most complete season. This year, in the end, I have played a little less than half of the games, when I have been a starter, and happy with the performance given, the truth.
– The post has not suffered, and above all, a great campaign by Bilbao Athletic …
– Being third, showing that we have been a solid team, that we have had practically no ups and downs, from the first to the last in playoff positions and I think we have given a great level of play both defensively and offensively, making us strong in Lezama. Very good year.
– Andoni Aiarza transferred him, along with Murua and Salado, who would renew for the express playoff, I suppose he already imagined that by age (23 years) he had to close a stage in Bilbao Athletic.
– By the philosophy of the subsidiaries, it was clear that my stage ended since you either jump to the first team or you must look for a team outside. They told us that there was that possibility of extending it for the express playoff and no problem.
– How do you see Imanol García de Albéniz, vintage of 2000, with the skills to go up to the first team in the short or medium term?
– He has very good skills, especially offensive. He arrives easily at the top, with a large number of assists, and working on some aspects in which he must improve can be a man to aim.
What happens is that with Berchiche and Balenziaga it seems that it is impossible to climb …
Well, the age also shows, Yuri is somewhat younger, but Balenziaga ends his contract next year, he has one more year left, but it is true that there is a generational difference between the two of them and what comes next. A place can be given for that position in Athletic.
Look at the laps that Ganea and Andoni López have been doing …
Yes, in the end it is a very specific position and it is difficult to go out and play. It is a position that rotates less than in other demarcations and in the lateral position, the same player is usually trusted throughout the season. Very difficult to play in Second and more in First.
An atypical summer, pending the mobile despite going on vacation and with the promotion playoffs of Second and Second B still on the wing.
It is the most uncomfortable thing to live in these situations. You need to relax on vacation, but in the end you leave with your phone on, waiting for answers, waiting to close next season so I don’t know if I’m going to relax at all.
– What plans do you have, close team, abroad?
The truth is that by age and by the situation I am open to everything. We consider alternatives and options, waiting for what happens. Any offer that helps me grow and help both personally and professionally I will be willing to accept it.
– Although it is early with the sluggish summer market, have you received many calls so far? Name does have …
In the end, yes. I leave a subsidiary like Athletic that opens doors for you. Waiting to see what happens to choose the best option.
– What do you get from these three campaigns to stay in Lezama?
From the first day you arrive and more than a child you have not trained in Lezama, you realize the magnitude of the club, services, facilities, trainers, everything you work with. In the day to day with the great players there are quite a few improvements.
– Do you see yourself ready to play First or Second in the short term?
Well, yes, I have been burning stages little by little and each step forward has shaped me well. I think I am prepared for it, I do not know if now, but if I continue with this performance, I think so.
– Of those who are going to do the preseason under the orders of Gaizka Garitano, the Ezkieta, Vivian, Vencedor, Sancet, Morcillo, do you think any of them will pass the cut?
Yes, Sancet has already shown during this year that he is ready to play in the first team, both Ezkieta, as Vencedor, as Morci, as Vivian, have had a great season and I see them with conditions to try at least to fight for a put on the template.
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