San Jose: I’ve come to Blues to be a leader La Liga stalwart’s vow
MIKEL San Jose says he has come to Birmingham City to ‘‘lead’’ and has promised to deal with the physicality of the Championship.
The experienced midfielder has signed a two-year deal after spending more than a decade playing in La Liga with Athletic Bilbao.
The 31-year-old has become Aitor Karanka’s ninth signing, arguably the most high profile of them all, and arrives having played for Spain and captained Athletic.
He returns to the UK a decade after leaving Liverpool after spending his formative years at Anfield.
“I am very happy to be here, I want to be ready as soon as possible to play for the team,” said San Jose.
“It was a big deal for us to come to England – for me and my family – after the things in Bilbao. They say to us we have to leave Bilbao, we thought an option for the family was to come to England.
“I had offers to stay in Spain but right now, for me and my family, it was a very good option to come to
England and I think good for us.
“It was difficult to leave, it is really hard after 11 years, I feel like it is my home, I spent 11 years in the first team, two years before in the Under16s and Under-17s. It is really emotional but things are like that.
“I didn’t know if I would come back to England. I never expected to because once I had been in Bilbao for so many years, in my mind a lot of times I thought about it being forever, retiring in Bilbao, but things change.
“After leaving Bilbao I think ‘I am young, I still have more years to play football’. That is why I am here and I will try to play for this club.
“Now it’s a new challenge, I am really happy, really excited and I want it to start.”
San Jose sees himself primarily as a midfielder rather than a central defender, although he has considerable experience of both positions. He joins up with another former Bilbao player – head coach Karanka.
“I think the head coach was a big influence,’’ continued San Jose. “Aitor knows me, all the things we talked about he trusted me and had a lot of confidence in me to come here.
it will be very
“I think all the projects Aitor started are really interesting. Right now, the team has started really well in the Championship.
“I think I will adapt. I have been playing in Bilbao and they are a really physical team. I think it will be similar.
“I always try to give 100 per cent in all the games. I will try to do the same here. That’s how I have always been playing football.
“I think I can bring that (leadership), I will try to keep doing the things I have always been doing, try to be the same person I have been and if I am the same person and try to do my best, I think it will be okay. “I am here to do the best for the team, the club, the fans, and I will try to do it. I am here to lead and to feel all the fans really happy with me.”
Swansea coach Alan Tate has been charged by the Football Association following Saturday’s altercation with Blues midfielder Jon Toral.
The incident occurred as the teams went in for the half-time break at the Liberty Stadium when Toral came over to the touchline.
Swans first-team coach Tate shoved the Spaniard at neck height, pushing him to the ground, causing a melee among both benches and sets of players.
Referee Gavin Ward did nothing at the time but the FA confirmed they were investigating. Tate has now been charged with improper and/or violent conduct and faces a ban. He has until Friday to respond.
Blues have signed attacking midfielder Oriol Soldevila.
The 19-year-old, who left Barcelona’s fabled La Masia at the end of last season, has been on trial and impressed enough to earn a two-year deal at St Andrew’s.
He is expected to feature primarily with the Under-23s, where he will link up with Spanish compatriot Miguel Fernandez, with a view to making it into Aitor Karanka’s senior squad.
Mike Dodd, Blues’ head of professional development, said: “Solde is a left-sided player who can play anywhere across the frontline, probably a seven, 10 or 11 type.
“He looks technically very good. He has a real good understanding from a tactical point of view of movements and recognising when to come deep and go long.’’