Athenea del Castillo, player of the Real Madrid women’s team and the Spanish national team, has explained via the social network Twitter the reasons that led her not to sign the declaration of 39 Spanish players expressing their decision Choosing not to attend the event until their wishes are fulfilled.
Full statement from Athenea del Castillo
After the events of the last few hours, I would like to express my opinion and all the reasons why I made this decision.
Before I delve into the statement, I would like to make my thoughts very clear. I completely agree, as my colleagues have already expressed, in denouncing everything that happened to Jenni Hermoso and pointing out the completely inappropriate and regrettable behavior of Luis Rubiales. For this reason, I, along with 80 other footballers, signed a statement condemning the events and declaring that I would not join the national team if Luis Rubiales continued in his position. After this letter and the subsequent events that we all know, Luis Rubiales and Jorge Vilda are no longer in the RFEF. Given the proximity of the Nations League dispute and the fact that an important part of our demands have been met, I am not thinking of giving up the national team’s reputation. And I want to make my arguments clear.
Firstly, we are footballers. Considering what has happened in the last few weeks, it never hurts to remember. We owe our profession and must do our duty. Secondly, the changes we demand have first and last names, and I believe that the best way to provoke them, or at least initiate them, comes from within. Of course I think it is necessary, but I am also aware of the situation of complete uncertainty that the RFEF is experiencing and I would therefore like to express a vote of confidence in the people who have taken command at this moment. I realize that players will not be able to implement these changes we are asking for because we are not the ones designated to do so.
Secondly, I think we have to play a very important tournament that gives us the opportunity to take part in the Olympics. We are the world champion team and we must not forget this: all the players have had terrible weeks after achieving one of the most important achievements in Spanish sport and I want above all to play football, watch football and, above all, play football. .
In short, I expressed what I think and what I want to do, nothing more, nothing less. I want this whole situation to end once and for all and I can only think about football again, about playing, watching and enjoying.
