First team

ÁLVARO FERNÁNDEZ: "I HAVE SEEN AN AMBITIOUS PROJECT, THE CLUB WANTS TO TAKE A STEP FORWARD"

13/08/2024
"Sevilla are one of the biggest teams in Spain and Europe; you only have to look at their new training complex, the stadium, and all the people around the club, who are great people and professionals," our new goalkeeper said


Our seventh signing of the summer, Álvaro Fernández, spoke in his first official interview since signing for the club. After finalising the move, he expressed his delight: "I am very happy. Finally, after a long time of waiting, the dream has come true, and I am very grateful to Sevilla for this opportunity."

"I was very clear about it; since I knew that Sevilla was interested in me and my agent told me, I didn't want to hear anything else. It's true that it hasn't been easy; these are things that happen in the market. But in the end, I'm here, and this is what I wanted. I couldn't be happier," the goalkeeper stated. He also recalled how he shared the news of his move to Andalucía with his loved ones: "I called my entire family. When a club as important as Sevilla FC calls you, it makes you proud as a player. It's the recognition of all the work you've done in the past."

"When a club as important as Sevilla FC calls you, it makes your proud as a player" 

Álvaro went on to emphasise the importance of both mental and physical work during the current transfer window: "It was challenging because it was the first time in my career that I was a free agent. You have to train on your own; you don’t have a team to follow a routine with or teammates. You don’t have coaches guiding you on what to do. I was fortunate to find good facilities and two or three coaches who helped me train and stay in good physical shape. I’m someone who likes to take good care of myself physically and nutritionally. I knew it was important to be in top shape to join a club as important as Sevilla. There were difficult moments this summer when it seemed things were slipping away, only to come back around again. I’m 26 years old, young but with experience in football. The world of football is like this, and in the end, you have to go through these situations. It has been worth it because now I’m here."

One of the aspects that the goalkeeper highlighted was the unity within the changing room and the great people and professionals in the club: "They have conveyed a strong sense of unity to me. I know many of the players who are here today, and even former players, who have only said positive things. Sevilla are one of the biggest teams in Spain and Europe; you just have to look at their new training complex, the stadium, and all the people. That speaks volumes about what Sevilla is. I've been told that the group and the team are very united, and I’ll finally be able to meet them and see the human quality they undoubtedly possess. I've seen an ambitious project; the club wants to do things right and take a step forward. I’m committed to the cause and ready to help Sevilla be where it always deserves to be."

"I'm committed to the cause and ready to help Sevilla be where it always deserves to be" 

"It's the ideal situation; I'm joining such a big club with the pressure and magnitude of Sevilla FC at the perfect moment in my career. I’m coming off a good season, feeling very confident in myself, and doing things well. I believe that's why I've earned the opportunity to make such a significant step up. I’m ready to play wearing the Sevilla FC shirt, step onto the pitch at Ramón Sánchez-Pizjuán, and represent the fans," he continued.

Álvaro also highlighted his experience in his football career so far: "Goalkeepers take a bit longer to settle into professional football. That’s not the case for me; I have already played a lot of games and have good experience. I’ve played in three different leagues and for several teams in both the first and second divisions. Everything has prepared me for this opportunity and for what it means to play in the Sevilla shirt. I have no doubts; I am fully ready to take this step. At no point did I hesitate or wonder if I was prepared to come here—quite the opposite. I know this is the ideal moment.

"Everything has prepared me for this opportunity and for what is means to play in a Sevilla shirt" 

I am extremely grateful to all those who have spoken well of me and supported me. I publicly thank them for their support. For me to be the top candidate among a group of goalkeepers that Sevilla could sign this summer says a lot about the club's commitment to me. All I need to do is repay that with hard work and by performing well in the matches I participate in. Sevilla is undergoing a generational change, and my signing is very fitting for the moment the club is experiencing. I come to bring fresh energy, youth, enthusiasm, and eagerness—qualities that the club needs to make a step up in quality and be among the greats, which is where it should always be,” he continued.

Álvaro Fernández mentioned that he has been following our pre-season matches, with particular attention to the goalkeepers' tactical situations: "The last match I watched was the most recent one against Liverpool. What's important for me is to see the team's tactical set-up. I observed what the goalkeepers were doing to understand what the coach's ideas are. This week we will talk, and he will give me instructions. From what I have seen and what I’ve been told about what he expects from the goalkeepers, I am ready."

"From what I have seen and from what I have been told about what the coach expects from the goalkeepers, I am ready" 

He also admitted to closely following the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, recalling his experience as a finalist at Tokyo 2020: "I watched the final and the semi-final with Juanlu’s goal. When you win a silver medal, you don't appreciate it as much at first, but over time, you come to value it more. The more I have appreciated it has been during these Olympics. You see the emotion of so many athletes winning a bronze, silver, or gold medal... that’s when you truly understand the importance of a medal. It has helped me appreciate myself; being an Olympic medalist is very difficult, and in football as well. It is a great pride to have a medal for life."

Álvaro expressed his dream of hearing the anthem as a Sevilla FC player: "To step out and hear the Sevilla anthem sung by the fans a cappella... I can't wait to experience that and feel it. I’ve been to this stadium as a visitor and as a fan watching a match. I've seen the fans sing the anthem and watched videos of great Sevilla nights with the incredible atmosphere. It’s something wonderful that I am very eager to experience. I hope that moment comes as soon as possible."

"The anthem is something wonderful and I am very eager to experience it" 

Finally, our new goalkeeper hopes to join a team that fights together to achieve great goals: "I hope to find a group of players who are very united and calm. A group that is all on the same page. I know they will welcome me as one of their own. I hope they are ambitious and have listened to the project that Sevilla has. I want us to share the same idea of helping Sevilla and making a step up in quality. I can't wait to play the first match this Friday, for the league to start, and to show why the players we’ve signed are here. With the support of our fans, of course. Let’s look forward to a magnificent season and a lot of success for everyone."