This week, after reporting to the Spanish U-21 national team, Espi gave an exclusive interview to AS. In the first part of the interview (which we've divided into three parts due to its length), he discusses his feelings about being called up to the Spanish U-21 squad and his move to Real Madrid this summer.

Related links:

【Espi: I'm similar to Joselu but focused on myself; Mourinho wants me to connect more with Mbappé】

【Espi: Losing the derby is difficult but we'll get through it; I would choose Mbappé for the Ballon d'Or】

You were once considered a strong candidate for Spain's senior national team. Were you surprised to receive this call-up to the U-21 squad? Did you anticipate it? What are your thoughts on being selected for U-21, given your previous experience with youth teams?

I certainly had a chance to be selected—I've been scoring and all that—so honestly, this U-21 call-up is very motivating for me. I especially hope to help the team and contribute as much as possible. I'm full of anticipation.

You're familiar with this group of players, aren't you? You've played with many of them before. Who do you have the best chemistry with on the team? Who is your closest friend, and who has helped you most in adapting to this new phase?

Yes, I know almost everyone in this squad. Chema, Ramón, Rodríguez, López from my U-19 days—I could name almost all of them. They've helped me integrate into the team quickly, and I'm very grateful for that.

Do you see this U-21 call-up as an opportunity to open the door to the senior national team? Like Fresneda was called up after Porro was withdrawn from the squad.

I hope so. This is my first call-up to Spain's U-21, and I'll give everything to help the team and always be ready.

For you, this is a new chapter in your life, isn't it? It's also been quite an emotional whirlwind at Real Madrid. We just talked about how not long ago you were a key player and benchmark at Levante, and now you're at Real Madrid, playing alongside Mbappé, Vini Jr., Bellingham, and Courtois. Have there been moments when you look in the mirror and ask yourself, "Carlos, take a breath—what is actually happening?"

Honestly, every time I go back to my hometown and return to real life, I truly realize what an incredible honor it is to train with the best players in the world. I'm very grateful for it.

Your transfer happened very suddenly—it was a lightning-quick transfer, wasn't it? You mentioned you couldn't even tell your friends at the time, as if everything was normal one second and the next you'd joined Real Madrid. How do you remember those days? How difficult was it to keep the transfer secret?

Those days were truly agonizing. Imagine knowing in your heart that you're going to join Real Madrid but not being able to tell anyone. It was incredibly difficult during those few days. I really wanted to share that good news, but we had to respect the conditions.

The club told us that the official announcement would come soon and no information could leak before that. I really wanted to tell my friends, but when people asked me "Which team will you join?", I couldn't say anything. But I was so happy inside, and my friends were happy for me too.

Mourinho welcomed you from day one. He apparently even showed you around the training complex and had dinner with you. Is that true? What does Mourinho mean to you? What have you learned from him? What does he expect from you?

Mourinho has a brilliant coaching record. He treated me well from my first day joining the team, but he also demands a lot from me and pays close attention to my development. This makes me feel more relaxed and confident. It's an honor to be treated this way by Mourinho, and I'm very grateful.

Diterjemahkan oleh AI.

Situs web AF kini hadir! Lihat berita lengkap, komentar, detail pertandingan, dan statistik di komputer Anda. Kunjungi: www.allfootballapp.com