‘What Kane will want to do now is win trophies’
The former Middlesbrough, Valencia and Spain midfielder on the futures of Harry Kane and Sergio Ramos, and enduring lockdown in ghost-town London
YOU’VE BEEN BASED IN LONDON DURING THE PANDEMIC. HOW DID THAT HAPPEN?
I’ve always loved England and in London you have the music, the sport, the culture, the gastronomy – everything. I like living here but I never thought about staying here when I first came. Then I finished playing, I started doing media work, got my coaching licence and there was an opportunity for me to stay here.
WHAT’S IT BEEN LIKE SEEING LONDON DESERTED AND BEING UNABLE TO GET OUT AND ABOUT AS USUAL?
In the beginning it was quite intimidating. London was empty, the city centre, the parks – everywhere. A ghost town. In a way it was sad.
YOU PLAY ROCK AND SOUL SONGS AS A DJ. HAVE YOU MISSED BEING ABLE TO DO THAT?
I had a few gigs that got cancelled and I was asked to do some online, but I wasn’t that keen because for me what I love is the connection with people and seeing how they react to the music. Being at home and not being able to have that relationship didn’t feel right. I love my music and sometimes people seem to love it too. I’m an old-school DJ: I don’t mix, I just play the songs.
DOES ANYTHING YOU’VE DONE SINCE PLAYING REPLACE BEING A FOOTBALLER?
No, it does not. Football gives you a sense of adrenaline which I have not found in anything else in life. If someone says something gives them that same feeling in life as football – as you come out of the tunnel with 80,000 or 90,000 people watching, or scoring a goal – they’re lying!
DESPITE YOUR VARIED INTERESTS, DO YOU FIND FOOTBALL ALWAYS LURES YOU BACK?
Football is the centre of it all for me. I work in football with La Liga, DJing at Uefa fan zones. I have restaurants. I hope to get involved eventually in some capacity, as a coach, or sporting director. That’s the idea behind me staying involved in football.
IN THIS SEASON’S CHAMPIONS LEAGUE, WHO HAS IMPRESSED YOU AND WHO HAVE YOU BEEN SURPRISED BY?
Chelsea a little bit for the way they have responded after the change of manager. They could be the ones. Porto did well to get to the latter stages. Real Madrid surprised me but they have this ability to connect or disconnect from a competition. Not many teams in football at that level have that ability.
MANCHESTER CITY ARE EYEING A QUADRUPLE. IS IT POSSIBLE?
I think it is but I don’t think it will happen, just because of the demands
of what it requires. The Premier League is kind of done so the focus will be on the Champions League. There are other distractions in the cups. I don’t know if they can do it.
SPECULATION IS RIFE HARRY KANE COULD LEAVE TOTTENHAM FOR SPAIN THIS SUMMER. DO YOU THINK HE WILL MOVE?
I’m sure what Harry wants to do is win trophies and he’s not finding that at Spurs. For La Liga it would be great to have a player like him. If he had the opportunity, he might think about it. We’ll see.
REAL CAPTAIN SERGIO RAMOS HAS BEEN LINKED WITH THE PREMIER LEAGUE AND PARIS SAINT-GERMAIN. IS HE SET TO GO?
Ramos will end up staying after all these rumours. He’s certainly had offers and the temptation to go to England or PSG, but I think he will stay in Spain.
IS SPANISH FOOTBALL REALLY IN AS BAD A STATE, ESPECIALLY ITS TWO GIANT CLUBS, AS WE ARE LED TO BELIEVE?
‘Football gives you a sense of adrenaline which I’ve not found in anything else’
I see it because the Champions League is a thermometer for people all around the world and gives a gauge of what’s happening. But I wouldn’t take that as the only indicator. Barcelona are in a transition and at both clubs maybe the old guard is coming to an end. n Gaizka Mendieta is the first of three Uefa Champions League legends to take part in Hotels.com Dream Island campaign in partnership with Joe. Go to www.hotels.com