ANDThe closing of the market was a severe blow to Fernando llorente. The Rioja striker was able to continue scoring goals at the highest level. After his adventure in Udinese, a club to which he arrived after leaving Naples with pain, the Rioja striker stayed until the end of June in Udine, maintaining his form with daily training. Already in July he decided to return to Spain looking for an opportunity in a Spanish club.
The contacts were numerous, but nothing materialized. Meanwhile, powerful foreign teams were calling Chus, his brother and agent. Colo Colo, the most powerful in Mexico, in Turkey, the mythical Red Star … Half the world asked about the ‘killer’ who, despite his age (36 years), has shown in his latest adventures not to have lost his nose and to be a great professional. ‘Chance’ that has finally arrived via Eibar.
A tremendous willpower
Any future plan was to stay in shape. For this reason, after returning to San Sebastián in the summer (the city he loves and where his wife is from), Fernando put himself in the hands of his ‘guardian angel’: the physio Mikel Aramendi. The specialist, who works in Ammma Donostia, went hand in hand with the attacker.
“When he arrived in San Sebastián he visited us in the center and told us that he wanted to stay in shape. What we have done has been to fine-tune the machine. We have done a lot of work on the stretcher, in the gym and on the football field. very good. He is physically a crack and mentally an out of series. He knows where he is. He believes in him a lot, “he says. Aramendi to BRAND.
“With so much demand, I knew that I could not lower my guard. From day 1 he told us that he wanted to continue, although he was aware that when they called him he had to be fine. During these months, if there were discomforts, we would work on the stretcher. He has never had doubts, I have always seen him very motivated. He has always had offers and I knew he could return at any time. I am happy to know which one has chosen because he stays at home, “he insists.
He has never had doubts, I have always seen him very motivated
His will power has been important: “He has come every day, he has not failed to our center. Ammma is a multidisciplinary center with services that range from medical diagnosis, physical therapy and physical preparation to psychology and nutrition. We accompany the patient from start to finish of the recovery process. Here’s everything and we’ve done a great job. Many athletes currently in the elite come here, each to seek their service although I cannot tell their identities. There are professional footballers in the first division. ”
For this reason, he is not concerned that he may accuse his physique by age and by starting later: “It is very thin in weight. At the machinery level it is very good. At the beginning he said in the field that he lacked the spark, but we told him that he was going to catch him in the competition. The hips may be the thing that can give him the most battle, but it sure performs at a high level. ”
Stones that turn into balls
The physical trainer Ibai Guridi he has also been his shadow during these weeks. “I have been with him in the field for many hours and I can say that he is a milk footballer in the sense of work. We have enjoyed a lot in the day to day. It has been very cool to watch how he was getting better, it comes at a good time. During the last training session we talked about how good it felt and we ended up feeling good. We have raised many things with the ball and also physically. He understood that he needed certain things and we relied on various assessments to establish the work route. It came directly from him to do more things, “explains someone who continues to be surprised by his scoring ability.
He gave him stones close to the area and turned them into goals
“He is able to contact each ball that flies over the area. Training with us there were centers that went” that way “and he was able to make them good. I laughed a lot with him about it. He gave him stones near the area and converted them. in goals. It is something that we already know about him, but he never ceases to amaze. He is sure that he is doing very well in his new team, “he confirms.
From the gym to the grass
The work with the machines has given effect: he only weighs a kilo more than he was in his best days at Athletic. After picking up a certain peak of form in the gym, the striker jumped onto the pitch. The Zarautz He offered his services to him to train in his field. The Basque team, which competes in the Honor Division, warmly welcomed a world champion who was struggling not to close his career.
His head told him that he could still contribute a lot to whoever required his services. He trained alone on the field, together with the physical trainer, but to the surprise of all the kids in the Zarautz who have boasted of being close to the ‘killer’.
The Eibar, pending
In Eibar they knew about the situation of the Rioja and have followed his evolution until the final call of Garitano. The coach, who already wanted to sign him for Athletic last year, now achieves that Ferdinand put on the azulgrana shirt. After the injuries suffered by attacking men in their squad, the presence of the footballer who will start this Thursday to exercise with the group is essential.
The great atmosphere of the team, similar to that of a family, the fact of never having competed in a competition of such a level as the Second division that is seen in many countries on television and the attractiveness of a challenge as appealing as returning the gunsmiths to the elite have ended up convincing a Llorente who already plans how to celebrate his goals in Ipurúa.
In addition, the fact of being able to live in San Sebastián as other colleagues of the armory entity do, is a plus. The new relationship between Llorente and Eibar it has everything to make it fruitful.
