Jon Guridi was close to leaving football in 2018. Less than two years ago. The Azpeitiarra midfielder, from the generation of 95 who made his debut with the Real Sociedad Juvenile in the Youth League and one of the strongest promises of recent years in Zubieta, suffered an injury that did not seem to be of major importance on the day of his debut in the First Division, in March 2017 in Mendizorroza against Alavés. He had to undergo surgery and began an ordeal with injuries that even led him to have to return to Sanse as a last resort to see if he could play soccer normally again. Clearly it passed the test. On the contrary, would not have given the physical exhibition in the Basque derby on the last day of 2020 in San Mamés. It was his confirmation in the first team of the Real. You could say until he got a doctorate against him Athletic.
But until reaching that first great moment as a Real player, Jon Guridi has had to overcome a long list of bumps that give him even more credit for what he is doing. He underwent surgery in April 2017 “for a grade IV osteochondritis dissecting in the medial femoral condyle of the right knee, with a dislodged bone fragment.” Right after an exciting premiere in Primera. Of Guridi everyone spoke well in Zubieta. High hopes were pinned on him. Technique, physical display, tireless fight and tactical sense. All highlighted those qualities of the Azpeitiarra. And the current football director was not far behind. Roberto Olabe was not in the Real when Guridi burned stages in Zubieta. But he played with his son, currently in the Eibar. And I watched him play every week. That is why when the injury seemed to complicate Guridi and threatened his sports career, the Real's football director delayed the decision and looked for new ways to recover it. He was aware of his potential. Thus came a key moment in the Azpeitiarra's career.
In July 2018, as a first team player, Olabe decided to go back to training with the subsidiary, in a decision that could be interpreted as the beginning of the end of his stay at the Royal. Nothing is further from reality. The idea was for him to carry out a process of adaptation to the competition with load controls and work volumes to finish overcoming the knee injury that he had suffered in March 2017 and from which he had not been able to fully recover, because he had constant relapses, overloads and had even lost muscle mass. At the end of July, after ten very hard months, he dressed again in short with Sanse and played a game.
That step really was the beginning of his return. That same season he was assigned to the winter market to Mirandés, with which he renewed assignment in summer of last year. And there in Miranda, completed his recovery, his return to football and Real, through the big door, because he had a great season. Olabe did not hesitate to occupy the position of retired David Zurutuza in the realistic squad. And now, back and renewed, with Olabe as a great supporter and Sheriff As a great mentor, because he also trained him in lower categories, he begins to stand out in the Real. What should have happened in 2017 happens in 2020. It is never too late if happiness is good. So far he has been the ideal replacement for Mikel Merino. But Guridi is much more, as he demonstrated in San Mamés. He is a player who balances everything around him and, yes, can play together with Merino. Your role is essential in this Real, because it gives depth to the squad, and because it brings a competitive level. Guridi has already given his first physical exhibition. It will surely be the first of many. Write down your name. 'Jongu' they call him in Zubieta. Is Jon guridi.