“As soon as you arrive at Madrid you realize its greatness”

David Fernández started in the Prebenjamín del Espanyol in 2002 training Óscar Melendo and Aarón Martín, two First-class players. He spent 15 years in Sant Adrià, a classic of the benches of the base of the stage of Josep Manel Casanova and the later. In 2017, after the changes in the quarry and in the management of the club, he left and within a few months he already had a job in the Real Madrid recruitment department. Four more years in Valdebebas. An “ocean liner” that has made him gain even more knowledge.

You spent four years in the Real Madrid quarry in the recruitment department. What balance do you make of that stage?

The feedback is very good. When you arrive at Real Madrid you realize the greatness of the club. About how the people are, the resources they have and all the history that their people tell you. I have worked with anonymous people and idols, and the treatment of both is incredible. I worked closely with Raúl and Xabi Alonso, for example, and it is a privilege.

Is there wood in Raúl?

Raúl is Madrid. He took a cadet, a youth and Castilla and impregnated them with his spirit: those teams worked and work. He knows everything and is interested in the players. And he does something that is disappearing in society, which is combining demand with affection. It's what he was as a player. He makes boys have habits that will make them better.

Did Xabi Alonso have another profile?

They are different. And that is already a virtue of the Real Madrid quarry, which had two referents with different virtues. The infant year was involved and the boys played very well. Both will be two very good coaches, each with his own style.

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Are there any other technicians or leaders who impressed you?

Ramón Martínez. He taught me what Madrid is: lordship, education or how to manage the times. Sometimes when we approached a signing and he came down to talk to the families, with just two sentences they were already impressed. What a guy! He treated me with affection and gave me a lot of confidence.

Does it remind you of what you lived with Casanova at Espanyol?

Yes, totally. These figures are being lost. Only his presence adds up. Casanova, Martínez, Pablo Blanco at Sevilla … Their know-how, their experience and their level make the club rise and gain prestige. They have everything and you always have to respect and listen to people with that level and their age.

After 15 years at Espanyol, he knows the Barça quarry well. What differences are there with Real Madrid?

Each quarry has a history and an identity. Madrid is the most prolific quarry, so the numbers say. Sometimes the difference is putting the players in, not just having them. They are different models, they do not have to envy each other. The quarries are used to have assets and for players to reach the first team.

He speaks that the key is to put the homegrown players, not just to have them. What do you mean?

All the teams that have done great things had homegrown players, they give you identity.

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At Espanyol they talk about speeding up the processes. What do you think of this idea?

Accelerating processes is very nice but it must be loaded with a lot of responsibility. You can burn the player. To do this the player must first demonstrate, must learn meritocracy. Even cadets and juniors must play at their age. You can inflate the environment if you make a hasty decision.

There are exceptions, Ansu Fati, for example.

There are many, yes. Ansu Fati is one example, there are others, but the exception confirms the rule. Accelerate the processes but in the right measure. The player will already “knock the door down” to advance his age.

Does Madrid, for example, have any child who stands out under control?

Those of us who dedicated ourselves in Spain knew everything from all over the world. We were 41 observers throughout Spain. The order was always to have the best, with special emphasis on those from the Community of Madrid. The merit is to sign local players, because they are the ones who have the easiest of all their circumstances to get there.

Were there any players now that escaped them?

There are always. We raffle off the good guys for everything. Players have an environment, interests, and there is family. Behind each player there is a story. I don't discover anyone, I make decisions. Discovered Newton. We decide based on our ability to see it and the means we have.

Since we have entered fully into debates about grassroots football. Do you think that the quarries should have a unique game model in their teams?

I do not think so. It is important that the club have an idea, but not the same way of playing. I have not met two people the same, so no two teams should be the same. The club identity is more important. The Espanyol teams were characterized by being vertical, competitive … And those of Barcelona by occupying the spaces and by the way they progressed. But that is a utopia that employs many people. I think it's the other way around. You have to get the best out of each player through a collective idea. Although good players adapt to everything.

What image does the Espanyol youth team have in Madrid?

Espanyol is very loved and everyone respects their quarry. In Madrid it was always considered a friendly club, there was always conciliation and respect in the operations we did.

What should you do to grow like other clubs in major cities?

Espanyol should be Atlético. Soccer would benefit. But Espanyol overcomes everything. In my 15 years at the club there were 48 players who left. I don't protest about it, I accept it, and that should make us better. But Espanyol must stop complaining, have their identity, do their job and think big. In Madrid they are more open in every way, there is room for everyone, both for Atlético, Getafe, Rayo … Not here and it would be very good for Catalan football

How many players did you sign from Atlético?

None, there is a non-aggression pact between directives. Here it is unthinkable. Every cloud has a silver lining. The important thing is to have people who want to be.

Is that the way to build a better Espanyol?

Espanyol need stability, stop being cronyism and have the best. There are prepared people who feel the club. You have to think big. Sevilla went down to Segunda and found a way. Selling footballers is a way to grow. I lived through years in which many people sought only their personal promotion.

Before his departure, he trained talents. One of them, Nico Melamed.

When Adrià Bernabé left for Barcelona, ​​we signed him from Cornellà. But he didn't come for each other, he came because he was good, I wish I had both. He has always been focused on performing and being better. Has pause and determination in completion. That has a lot of value.

Puado is another icon.

I have a predilection. I always believed in him but there is a turning point in my opinion, which is injury. I was very close to him, at that time. As I saw him face that (knee) injury, I thought he was going to be a safe footballer. He did not skip a session, he wanted to heal, he showed a brutal fortitude.

Why did you leave Espanyol?

My departure was voluntary. I started in 2002 with the prebenjamines, with Melendo, Aarón, Pol Lozano … I ended up as coordinator, going through all the categories. I don't want to say anything because it would point people out, but I decided to go. I did not think well what happened. I respect the trajectories and meritocracy, I think that if that is respected, everything works better. But there are cycles. Personal interests cannot go above those of the club

And what do you do now?

I am resting. If I have a choice, I want to work with people who encourage me. I want to be very motivated or to be able to form a team and relaunch a project. The quarry is very important, it is the most productive and the most profitable process.