“After going from one club to another, I am in a place that makes me happy”

The serious injury of his compatriot Chimy Ávila, accelerated the arrival of Calleri. The Argentine arrived on loan from Deportivo Maldonado, after playing last season at Espanyol. Jonathan Calleri, curiously, met El Sadar as a visitor in the last match with the public, before the pandemic caused by COVID paralyzed everything. She is happy in the rojillo team, where she claims to have found her place and is clear that she would love to stay for a long time.

How are you in Osasuna?

I'm very happy. I found an excellent group, in which the game idea is suitable to my style. Being in a team in which I feel reflected makes me happy in Pamplona. The truth is, I didn't think I was like this right now. After spending year after year from one club to another, I have reached a place that makes me happy and adapts to my conditions. Hopefully we can stay in Primera and continue here next year.

Having two compatriots like Chimy and Roncaglia on the team, has it helped you to adapt easier?

Yes. Having two Argentines on the team, whom I already knew from having played against, has helped me. But the truth is that everyone has welcomed me very well, both the Argentines, the Spanish and the Navarrese received me in the best way. The unity of the group is the most important thing for this team.

From the beginning he has had the trust of Arrasate …

I arrived late, in the absence of training to face Getafe on the second day. In fifteen days I could be available. Against Eibar I injured my knee. I suffered a lot because I didn't know what I had, and the truth is that the image was quite ugly. I was able to recover and when I came back after two months I needed to get a little rhythm. Every time I was feeling better, and although the results were not given, in general the team was good. Those draws that we could not achieve were victories gave us points that are now saving us from relegation.

How do you see the team heading into the final leg of the season?

Now entering the ball, what ten dates ago did not happen. Beyond losing the other day to Barça, whose players are from another category, I think we were good. We had some option and we were able to put ourselves up on the scoreboard. If that had been the case, we might have scored a point. Everyone saw that the team wanted to scratch something, that they were eager, but Messi's genius turned the game against and we couldn't turn it around. The desire we have can be seen and the results that were not given two months ago are being given. In this season finale we hope to push and finish as high as possible so as not to be suffering in the last matches.

Now they face two very important games, against Valladolid and Huesca, teams from their League, which can mark the future of the team.

Yes. I think that these two games and that of Getafe are going to be the ones that mark what may be the last eight or nine dates. If we leave these three games alive and add six or seven points out of nine, salvation may be there. The coach is pushing us and we hope to give everything to leave Osasuna in First.

He has five goals with the red shirt, is it to mark figures?

No. You always try to help the team and if it is with goals, much better. The team is very hard-working and I think everyone sees it every weekend. Those of us who play at the top try to go a little further, but I don't set a figure for myself. The main objective is to leave the team in First.

Have we already seen its best version?

You can always improve and I think I have a lot of things to improve. This goes at times and you have to take advantage of the good ones. Hopefully I can continue scoring more goals and helping the team with work and effort.

Arrasate sometimes employs a born striker and another two, with which system are you more comfortable?

I always like to play with another striker next to me. When playing with two the defenders have two plots to score. One can drag the mark and another score or vice versa. One fits any style. With a striker we have also had very good games, especially as visitors, against teams like Real Sociedad, Valencia … Against teams that try to get more of the ball, the coach tries to put more people in the middle. I always feel comfortable playing. I want to play and where I play I give my best.

He had already played in El Sadar as a visitor.

I played last year with Espanyol. It was the last game before lockdown. I got to know El Sadar with people. Now with the Osasuna shirt and with the new stadium, everyone wants our field to start roaring. There have been games in which in the final minutes we ended up drawing a tie and with the crowd pressing, that changes because you draw strength from where you don't have them because you hear people shouting and encouraging. I hope they can come back soon because they are important to us.

It's a shame we haven't been able to see El Sadar full yet …

It is a shame for everyone, but health comes first and what we are going through is for a good cause. Hopefully all this happens soon and we can see the field full. It is very cute. They have left it like any top-level stadium and it has nothing to envy that of teams like Betis or Sevilla. On the outside it is also spectacular. I think this season we will not be able to see El Sadar full, but I hope we can continue in the First Division and stay here to experience what it is to wear this shirt and play in the stadium with people.

You say you would like to stay, have you discussed this with the club?

Not yet. Staying in First is what will mark a bit of everything. Those who have to decide are the people of Osasuna like Braulio, the coach and the president. I'm going to give everything to try to stay in the First Division, which is what will mark my destiny. I hope I can stay because I have been a team for many years and now I have found one that adapts to my characteristics and that we are similar in the way we live and feel football.

How is Calleri off the pitch?

I am very calm, from home. I live in downtown. Sometimes I go out for a walk in Pamplona, ​​to have a coffee in the afternoon. Above all, I watch a lot of football. Now the Champions League and our rivals weekend after weekend. I like to sit on the couch, watch football and drink mate, like a good Argentine. With this COVID thing, you can't do much, or get to know places. I chose to live downtown because I like the people. I live in Buenos Aires and it's like seeing people on the street all day. Go out, have a coffee, have everything close, walk, see people … I like it. What I have seen of Pamplona has surprised me for good.