MADRID, 28 Jun. (EUROPA PRESS) –
The Spanish international of FC Barcelona Alexia Putellas, the best footballer in the world in 2021 and who will play the European Championship in England in July, does not believe that women’s football “will ever reach the terms” that are handled in men’s “because, for her, “It’s a bubble that’s going to burst.”
“I don’t think the terms that are handled in men’s football will ever be reached because for me it is a bubble that is going to burst. But we have been hearing for many years that it was not generated and now, that it is generated, is another argument that we have knocked down”, declared the soccer player in declarations to ‘Vogue Spain’ that collects Europa Press.
Alexia Putellas also spoke about the brilliant times that Spanish women’s football is experiencing, after winning the Ballon d’Or, and the FIFA The Best Award, in 2021, and with four Spaniards among the five nominees. “The important thing is that with all this Ballon d’Or, but also with the ‘Champions’ that we won with Barça, we have experienced some seasons in which very, very important successes have been achieved for our sport,” she explained.
According to the player, “now what is needed are years.” “This is an issue that has to do with the fact that, historically, until relatively recently women were not considered professional athletes. It takes time for us to work: the better preparation, more studies and improvements we have around us, the better show we will give and we will be better prepared. Logically, here the bet or the investment of institutions that believe in this and that they take it as something professional, as was done with the boys, is key, “he concluded.
IRENE PAREDES: “20 YEARS AGO WOMEN’S FOOTBALL DID NOT EXIST”
Regarding this process of professionalization that women’s football is undergoing in Spain, the international Irene Paredes, one of the three captains of Jorge Vilda’s team, positively values the progress. “I am going to be 30 years old. Almost 20 years ago, I lived in Legazpi, a small town in Guipúzcoa. There was only one team there. that we are someone they notice, it’s something very nice,” he said.
“In the end, the lack of resources often comes because we live in a macho society. It is true that a lot of progress has been made, but it continues to be the case. Ceilings are being broken, but there are many things to change and in the end the one that does not have the same resources is given by the mere fact of being a woman”, assured the FC Barcelona footballer.
On June 14, an important step was taken when the percentage of the bonuses received by the players of the men’s and women’s teams in Spain was equalized, something that Irene Paredes acknowledges has not been easy, but it is a great achievement.
“The negotiation process has been long and as players we saw it as difficult, but having reached an agreement of such magnitude reinforces the idea and the commitment of the Federation with the women’s team and especially with the players of the senior team,” she said.
MAPI LEÓN: “IN SPORTS THERE ARE STILL MISSING MANY LGTBI REFERENTS”
Another of the national team players, defender Mapi León, spoke about the importance of the Spanish women’s team in normalizing the presence of members of the LGTBI community. “In sports there are still many role models missing. I think it may have to do with the fear of being singled out, the fear of receiving criticism or the fear, simply, of not accepting oneself,” she declared.
“It is also true that, in our case, at the media level we have never had that repercussion that the boys experience, so I have never worried about what they are going to say or if I could lose campaigns or sponsorships. That works in our favor: as never we have had nothing, we have nothing to lose,” recognized Mapi León.
Now the Spanish team is facing the great challenge of Euro 2022, in which Jorge Vilda’s players are among the teams to consider for the title.
“We have suffered much less and we hope that those who come will have even fewer obstacles. Many of the veterans have fought for us to be here now,” says Amaiur Sarriegi, the Real Sociedad player who was left out of the final list of 23 players who will be in England.