David Raya on Non-League Grit, Champions League Heartbreak and World Cup Dreams
Spain goalkeeper David Raya has opened up about how a loan spell in English non-league football shaped his career, and the pain of losing the Champions League final before joining up with the World Cup favourites.
David Raya: From Southport’s Fifth Tier to World Cup Favourite
Spain goalkeeper David Raya has given a candid account of how a loan spell in the English non-league pyramid helped forge the player he is today — and why losing a Champions League final cuts deeper than most people realise.
Speaking to The Guardian from Spain’s World Cup training base in Chattanooga, Tennessee, Raya reflected on his early career move to Southport at just 18 years old, when he left Blackburn Rovers’ Under-21 setup in search of real competitive football.
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