Galarreta: "I've always had the dream and the confidence to come back"

Two days before the men's first team gets underway at Lezama for the new season, Iñigo Ruiz de Galarreta has been introduced as Athletic Club's new player. Accompanied in the press room at San Mamés by the president, Jon Uriarte, and the general director of football, Mikel González, the  player from Eibar admitted that he has fulfilled his dream of returning home.

"I've always had the illusion and the confidence of being able to return.

"I knew that every year that went by it was going to be more complicated, but the hard work has paid off.

I'm just thinking about starting now and enjoying this new experience to the full."

Galarreta joined Lezama at the age of nine in 2003, and after climbing step by step through the ranks and making his debut in the first team, he suffered a serious injury that only allowed him to play nine games in the elite. In 2013 he left the Club.

"The path took me to other places that I have also enjoyed and that have helped me to mature and live new experiences that have made me a better player and a better person.

"I think I'm coming back at a good time, with more experience and with a different mentality to face things."

🪄 @ruizdegalarreta

🔙 Back home at San Mamés. #AthleticClub 🦁 pic.twitter.com/Gmtldulswi

— Athletic Club (@Athletic_en) July 4, 2023

The Eibar player has declared that he is delighted with his return to Athletic.

"It's clear to me that I want to enjoy this new opportunity as much as I can.

"I'm coming to a great team with a lot of quality and with spectacular players in my position, so I'll have to work hard and compete for my place. In any case, I want to help wherever I can."

Galarreta described how he received the news of Athletic's interest.

"I received an audio message from my agent and it changed my face. I didn't hesitate to return to where they gave me everything and made me grow as a footballer.

"At the time I had the pleasure of sharing the dressing room with my role models, players like Gurpegui and Orbaiz, who are still friends of mine today.

"Now it's my turn to meet new team-mates and I'm really looking forward to it."

"He is an example of sacrifice, work and passion"

Athletic president Jon Uriarte has highlighted Galarreta's ability to overcome adversity.

"Iñigo has shown an incredible desire to overcome, with serious injuries in between, having to adapt to different styles of play, but without giving up.

"Wherever he has been, he has left a fantastic mark, and if not, just ask him in Mallorca.

"He has not hesitated to return home and we are very proud of him". 

Mikel González, for his part, has valued the player's insistent work as the key to his return.

"He is an example that with sacrifice and passion it is possible to reopen the door to Athletic.

"We are delighted with his return, because apart from being very good on the pitch, he has an incredible human value and is going to help us transmit the essence of the Club in the dressing room."