“WHEN I PLAYED In THE PREMIER LEAGUE FOR SWANSEA, I’D OFTEN EAT SEAWEED – I’M A BIT WEIRD”

A sensation in South Wales before injury hell struck, the Spanish striker discusses crafty ball boys and washing machines...

Why did you adapt to life at Swansea so easily when you joined in 2012?

I’m from Oviedo in northern Spain and used to the rain – but Swansea is the wettest city in the UK. It was just like home for me, and I was really happy there. I’m a normal guy: I get a taxi, go to training, eat at the training ground, sleep a bit, play on the Playstation, eat and then go to bed. There wasn’t much difference between living there and Asturias.

Spanish team- mate Angel Rangel warned you how tough the Premier League would be, but then you popped up with two goals on your debut...

We were laughing on the coach back because he’d told me it was tough to win away from home in the Premier League, then on my first day we won 5- 0 at QPR. I was joking, saying that he was a liar and it was very easy! But, yes, we started very well. After that, we beat West Ham 3- 0 and drew 2- 2 with Sunderland. It was such a good season.

That season, you also helped Swansea win their only major trophy in English football. How did that feel?

Yeah, we won the League Cup, knocking out Liverpool at Anfield and beating Chelsea 2- 0 at Stamford Bridge in the semi- finals. I was lucky to play at Wembley – I joined Swansea for only two seasons, and it’s not normal to play at that stadium. Then we won the final 5- 0. In a footballing sense, that was the best year I could have had. I scored 22 goals and lifted a cup at Wembley, then in the league we beat Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium and I scored twice. We also had a manager who was a legend, in Michael Laudrup.

In the League Cup semis against Chelsea, Eden Hazard infamously got sent off after clashing with a ball boy. Did you thank the lad after the game?!

Yes… [ Laughs] It was a mistake from Hazard, but the ball boy did a good job! Hazard came into our dressing room and apologised. I was at the other end of the pitch and didn’t see it, but Petr Cech came over and told me Hazard was going to be sent off. I said, “F** king hell!” Afterwards, I watched a replay and thought it was normal to get a red card for doing that.

What were the main differences between English and Spanish football?

In Spain it’s more technical, but in England the players are stronger. They deserve a lot of credit for that, because the English league is very hard. An example is Ashley Williams – in Spain it might have been tougher for him, as he’s a distinct type of footballer. But if he had to stick his head in a washing machine, he’d stick it in.

How did you find the food in Wales, and life there in general?

I’m a bit weird – in Swansea, I liked seaweed! I went to the coast a lot – the beaches and scenery are incredible. The best in the world.

What about the language?

Welsh is complicated... [ Laughs] I arrived with a level of English from school, then a teacher from the university visited my house to help me. I set myself the challenge to learn English, as it’s a language you can keep with you for the rest of your life.

I talked to the English- speaking guys at the club and got on with them – my room- mate was Ben Davies. To create good friendships, you have to speak English well.

You waved a hand by an ear whenever you scored ( left) – what was that about?

It began when I was at Celta Vigo. I’m a Real Oviedo fan and rivals Sporting Gijon tried to sign me, but I turned them down. They were in La Liga and offered me a very good deal. Their fans said I’d never play in the top flight after rejecting them, so when I joined Rayo Vallecano, I celebrated like that as a gesture of anger. People liked to put the boot in, but when I was scoring they had to keep quiet.

Why did you barely get a game for Napoli?

I had some pain in my ankle, but felt I could still play. Then we lost our Champions League play- off to Athletic Bilbao, and I had surgery after playing only six matches. I recovered in Madrid, but the injury never really went away and I joined Langreo in Spain’s third tier.

What exactly was the problem?

I believe it was from when I was 19 – I had an operation on a ligament injury. Nowadays, it wouldn’t be operated on. I remember one game for Swansea, at Reading, when I hurt my ankle quite badly – it looked like a potato! The left one is OK now, but the right is like an 80- year- old’s. I had to retire before my time, and even walking on the street hurts for the next couple of days.

After Langreo, you had a spell back at first club Oviedo before calling it a day aged 31. How did you decide?

Little by little. I woke up each morning telling myself that tomorrow the pain would vanish, but I’d go to training and it was there. I tried to continue my career at Langreo, then again at Oviedo, but the pain got worse and worse. It’s my club and I wanted to help them get promoted, but I couldn’t. I wasn’t performing at the level I’d hoped, so eventually gave up the remaining part of my contract.

How far could you have gone if you hadn’t been hampered by injuries. Barcelona or Real Madrid?

You were linked with Arsenal, and Erling Haaland said he was a big fan... [ Laughs] That’s what the press said. I’m not sure I could have reached either Barcelona or Madrid’s level. But at Arsenal, after 22 goals for Swansea, I could have offered something.

You’re Burgos’ sporting director in Spain’s third tier now. Could you become a coach?

I was doing my badges at Oviedo last year – I need six months of practical sessions, but I’m enjoying my current role because I think being a manager is exhausting. My brother is a manager – I’d see him one week, then the next it looked like he’d aged a year, the poor guy. I’d like to manage in the UK one day, as it’s such an advanced league, but it’s an ambitious project at Burgos. All of the people I work with are professional, and I think we have the structure of a top- flight team. We’re trying to get to that point.