At 16 years old, David Raya I played it. ly her family, because it is not easy to send your son beyond the English Channel to complete his adolescence in Blackburntypical industrial city in the north of England. But with just a couple of training sessions, the goalkeeper convinced the team’s scouts Rovers and they offered him a scholarship at their academy. The British team paid 10.000 euros al Cornellthe team where she played, and Raya made the jump to English football. 11 afterward of that, with 27is the most wanted man in London after passing the Arsenal to the quarterfinals of the Champions League after the penalty shootout against Port.
Raya’s journey has been meteoric. Far from the most famous quarries, from the centers of the national team’s lower teams and from the big stadiums, has cut his teeth on the fields of the amateur divisions of British football. He was assigned to towns, such as Southport, to earn a place in the first team of the Blackburn Rovers. Then Brentford, then the national team, then Arsenal.
His story is that of many little brothers. He wanted to have the ball and shoot at the goal, but someone taller, stronger and older than him ‘forced’ him to stand in the goal. And from there, the interest in the three suits, but always being ‘special’. When he arrived at Blackburn, the coaches were surprised by his handling of the ball with his feet, a virtue that ended up helping him sign for a top team like Arsenal. And a few meters from Raya’s house in Barcelona there was a field of ftbol room in which he and his brothers wore out their sneakers for years. From there he got the step, the touch, the pass and the absence of fear when pressured by a rival.
“What surprised us most was his technique and his athleticism. I played a lot of indoor soccer, so I was comfortable with the ball. In addition, we played a lot of football-golf and football-tennis with our teammates and he was one of the best,” he explained to Sky. Steven Drenchone of his first coaches.
After signing for Brentford and achieving promotion to the Premier, one of the most important games of his life arrived. In September 2021, his team faced the Liverpoolthey finished 3-3 and Jrgen Klopp was impressed with Raya. “That goalkeeper should wear the number 10,” declared the German coach, surprised by the Spaniard’s passing ability. “He has put up some incredible ballswhich is exactly what you must do before us.”
His performances with Brentford raised the interest of many European greats. Bayern, Manchester United y Tottenham They knocked on his door, but it was Arteta’s Arsenal that convinced him, in part thanks to one person. Iaki Caa, goalkeeper coach of the Gunner team since 2019 and previously assistant at Brentford, where he coincided with Raya. No sooner said than done.
Last summer, Arsenal reached an agreement with Brentford for the loan of the Spanish goalkeeper for 3 million pounds, with an option to purchase 27 million. Looking at their performances, it seems that the permanent transfer will be fulfilled. Arteta’s painting is the whole least goals scored in the Premier, with 24 goals in 28 games, and Raya has played 22 games. He could not play the two against Brentford due to the transfer agreement nor the first 4 after his signing, in which Ramsdale He was the starter, but since September he has been indisputable both in the domestic league and in the Champions League, where on Tuesday he dressed as a hero.
He stopped the penalties of Wendell and Galen confidently launching himself towards his left post and returning Arsenal to the Champions League quarterfinals 14 years later. Fan of Iker Casillas and with a body full of tattoos (Pokemon, Dragon Ballthe date of promotion to the Premier…), will be on De la Fuente’s list again this Friday.
2024-03-13 15:10:49
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