Rico on celebration, this season and love of tattoos

The hugely-likeable defender, who operates predominantly as a left-back, has shown his versatility this season by lining up in a back three.

Rico started his professional career with Real Zaragoza before joining newly-promoted Leganes in the summer of 2016.

He made his Premier League debut for the Cherries in their 1-0 defeat by Chelsea at Stamford Bridge in September 2018 and made 27 appearances in the top flight last season.

Devoted to his family who all live in Spain, Rico made a donation to a nursing home where his aunt and grandmother were staying during lockdown.

He also dotes on his brother Javier who is blind in one eye and has had 30 operations in his life.

Here, Rico discusses his life on and off the pitch, including playing against Lionel Messi, which team-mate speaks the best Spanish and his love for tattoos.

This interview first appeared in the club’s matchday programme, which can be downloaded digitally each week on android here and Apple here.

How has the season gone so far for you personally?

It’s gone well. I started with some aches so had to stop for around a week to prevent that becoming an injury but I am good now. The team and I are in good shape. We have started well so long may it continue.

You have been playing as a central defender recently, how are you finding that?

Good. I prefer playing as a left-back when we play with four at the back. But even in my former teams like Zaragoza and Leganes, when I was required to play in central defence, I didn’t have any issue doing so and have managed to adapted quickly. I am comfortable playing as a centre-back as well as playing as a left-back or full-back.

Jefferson Lerma says the Championship is even more intense than the Premier League – do you feel the same way?

Yes, the game is more direct with more long balls. Teams try not to complicate things playing from the back and they are more likely to play long balls.

We do try to play from the back, keeping possession and moving the ball from one side to another to tire the opposition. Many teams have a strong man up front. There is a lot of contact, but that’s like in the Premier League.

Real Madrid or Barcelona?

Pffff.. I would prefer not to answer because that could go against me, hahaha!

A: What are the main differences between playing in Spain and England?

Teams in La Liga are more patient to build up attacks and tend to keep more possession. The Premier League is more direct with more counter-attacks, more long balls, jumps and more contact between players.

It’s a big difference and you can feel it when you go from one league to another but you need to adapt as quickly as possible.

Account status: Opened ☑ @diegorico_3's sublime free-kick is our 𝕄𝕠𝕞𝕖𝕟𝕥 𝕠𝕗 𝕥𝕙𝕖 𝕄𝕒𝕥𝕔𝕙 🚀@HendyGroup // #afcb 🍒 pic.twitter.com/pWuGeWEqos

— AFC Bournemouth 🍒 (@afcbournemouth) December 5, 2020

Have you played against Messi?

I have played against all of them, Messi, Neymar, Bale, Cristiano.

Which one was the toughest to play against?

I played for Leganes so Messi was, let’s say, calmed because they had to play strong teams after us. But you could feel when he went up a gear.

Neymar looked like he was playing in the school playground, he was practically making fun of us.

Do you think it would be harder for Messi to play in the Premier League?

I think so because here it’s harder to get a free-kick. Referees are more prone to keeping the game going and the foul has to be very clear for you to get a free-kick. But you never know. If he does not come to the Premier League, we will never know.

Which of your team-mates speaks the best Spanish?

Junior. Last season, it was Nathan Ake but now it’s Junior. Adam Smith is very funny and laughs at anything I say – he can’t speak Spanish though and just comes out with random words!

How are you finding playing in front of no supporters?

It’s hard. You don’t have your crowd’s support to help you through the bad stages of a game. I do miss that, but health is the most important thing here. The situation is tough and the most important thing is to stay safe. Too many people have passed already.

Is it hard to stay focused during a game with an empty stadium?

At the beginning it was hard because the situation was weird. But little by little, you get used to it. I’m looking forward now for things to gradually go back to normal.

If you weren’t a footballer, what would you be?

I have no idea. I guess something related to sport but I have never stopped to think about it. I always liked football, my father instilled that in me, and I am lucky to be where I am now. Not everything has been easy, there have been tough moments too.

What was tough about becoming a football player when you were younger?

When you are young, your friends go out and party or have a pizza for dinner and you have to stay at home.

You need to be responsible and that’s tough. You have to stay focused on what you want to achieve.

Many players have lost their chance because of that. You need a helpful family and friends around you.

If you don’t make it, you have no college and no work experience behind you. You need to find something to do with your life.

Fortunately, I made it here. It wasn’t easy, I worked hard and I have to keep it up because a footballer’s career is very short so you have to make the most of it.

Tell us a bit about your brother, Javier, who is blind in one eye and has had 30 operations in his life?

Yes, he has had around 30 operations and it has been very hard. When he was born, doctors said that he would not be able to move, but thanks to my parents and all the effort and sacrifices they made with rehabilitation, swimming pool and everything to help him he can.

Doing overtime to pay for his care was hard but thanks to this and my brother’s will to fight, we have made it here.

Your brother must be looking forward to visiting you?

Yes, he is looking forward to seeing me. And he is very excited because he is going to college soon, to do a course for people that belong to the ONCE (Spanish Organization for people with vision difficulties) and he is very happy about it.

How are you going to celebrate when you score your first goal for the club?

I will do my usual celebration. I will cover one of my eyes and point to the camera, for my brother. Then, I will look to the sky for my grandma who passed away a couple of years ago. She was like my mother, so it was very hard. Also, for my previous agent who died of cancer, who trusted on my when I was no one, so I will always be grateful to him.

Who is the celebrity you would most like to meet and why?

I really don’t know. I don’t have an idol or anyone I would especially like to meet.

Which is your favourite tattoo and why?

They are all meaningful to me. Every tattoo is after anyone in my family or a friend.

How many do you have?

Many! I have one on the side of my stomach, a sentence for my brother. I have a good luck owl with a skull and then two warriors who represent my father and my brother, a goddess for my mum, then an angel taking care of everybody.

I also have tattooed some significant dates, like my debut in La Liga and the Premier League. Also, a tattoo of my brother, the name of my mother and my grandmothers

I have three for my friends.

Was the one in the side very painful?

It was but I managed to stand. Oh, I also have tattooed Burgos Cathedral because you cannot forget where you come from.

What are the main differences between living in Spain and England?

It’s very different. Even though I live alone… the language, the food, the weather.

You can’t go and have a paella, lentils, a steak from time to time, or just go to a terrace to have a coffee with your friends.

I also lived alone in Spain but there, at least once month, the squad would go for dinner or lunch.

It’s sort of a Spanish thing – finish work and go for a drink with the colleagues?

Yes and here after training, you go home. Here people have lunch at noon and dinner at 5pm. I wake up from siesta and people are having dinner. That’s so weird to me, having a plate of pasta at 5pm.

Which team-mate would you choose to partner you in padel tennis?

I don’t know. I don’t know who is good at padel tennis. They all seem to play golf or mini-golf!

Have you ever cleared the table in one visit while playing pool?

No, that’s impossible, haha!

What made you donate money to nursing homes in Spain during lockdown?

We have been talking about helping for a while. My aunt and my grandma are in nursing homes so it was the least we could do. We were looking into donating masks but we have seen cases where once they were delivered, they were faulty, so eventually we decided to donate money. We just tried to do our bit in this situation.

Who is the greatest Spanish sportsperson of all time?

I think Rafa Nadal is the greatest. He is an example on and off the court. He is very humble.

A couple of years ago, there were floodings in his hometown and he went there to clean up the water damage.

He is always respectful to his opponents and he has made history in the French Open. For me, he is the best ever and he has not retired yet.