“My wish was to continue helping”

It arrived without making too much noise. On August 31, on the buzzer of the summer transfer market for the 2016-17 season. loaned by him AC Milan and become the tenth incorporation of the first project of Quique Sanchez Flores in the RCD Espanyol. 2,112 days later, Diego Lopez Rodriguez (3/11/1981) has said goodbye like a living legend of Espanyolism, who this Monday has gathered at the RCDE Stadium to say goodbye to the one who has been the keeper of the parakeet goal for the last six years.

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Accompanied by his wife, would go Oteroand his three daughters, Zoe, Bianca y Flaviathe goalkeeper from Lugo began his farewell ceremony supported by the club’s leadership in the President Room and receiving thanks from the CEO, Mao Ye, who presented him with a gold badge in recognition of his career in the first team. Also, Ye hinted that the Foundation of the Espanyol will begin the procedures to designate a door in Cornellà-El Prat to Diego Lopezwho in turn received a captain’s armband with the ’21’ of the eternal Daniel Jarque from the hands of Rafa Maranontop scorer in the history of the entity.

“My wish was to continue helping”

Diego he began his speech stating that today was “a sad day for me and my family. I did not expect it to come now, my wish was to continue helping. It could not be, but I want to thank all the love I have received from day one “, continued the 40-year-old veteran footballer, who wanted to highlight the mark that the Espanyol has left both in him and in his family: “You made me feel special, you have spread this feeling to us and you have made my family a parakeet”.

want to keep playing

Regarding his immediate future, Diego Lopez He assured that he felt “very well and eager to continue” enjoying active football, although he recognized that it is something that “does not only depend on me. Right now I don’t even think about what is going to happen tomorrow. I am in my last years – of his career- or I’ve already finished it. My mind has been evolving and focusing on what I want my career to be, but there are many circumstances that can vary. It’s complicated”, he said when asked about a hypothetical future on the bench or in the offices.

In addition, the until now parakeet second captain wanted to leave his door “open if at any time I am asked again” in the Espanyol and emulated the famous phrase of another blue and white myth as Luis Garcia by assuring that “the best thing about Barcelona is being from Espanyol”.

“Always parakeets”

Finally, Diego and his family went down to the lawn at Cornellà-El Prat and, dressed in a blue and white shirt screen-printed with the phrase “Always parakeets”, they bathed in masses before the hundreds of fans present, whom he asked to remember him “as a great professional”.