According to LA NUEVA ESPAÑA, David Villa unveiled a bust of himself at the headquarters of the Royal Asturian Football Federation in Gijón, stating that it represents all of Asturian football.

David Villa now has a permanent place in the temple of Asturian football. The striker from Tuilla and Spain's all-time leading goal scorer with 59 goals unveiled his bust at the federation headquarters on Thursday. Representatives from Sporting Gijón, Real Oviedo, UP Langreo, and Unión Popular de Langreo attended the event. Villa said: "I hope this event is dedicated to all of Asturian football, and to all Asturian players who have brought so much success to this country."

The sculpture was created by Langreo sculptor José Luis Iglesias Luelmo, who donated it to the federation and attended the unveiling. This is not the first time the artist has created a permanent tribute to "El Guaje"; he previously sculpted a Villa statue for the Langreo municipal council, which stands in the center of La Felguera.

The event brought together two major representatives of Asturian football. Sporting Gijón was represented by President José L. P. L. and Vice President Joaquín Alonso. Real Oviedo's representatives included Vice President Manuel Paredes, as well as club legend and head of external relations Carlos Muñoz. Langreo President Adrián Torre also attended.

Federation President José Ramón Cuetos Lobo hosted the event. He thanked Villa as well as the federation's sponsors and partners, who were also honored that day. Among them, LA NUEVA ESPAÑA, the only media sponsor present, also received an award.

José Ramón Cuetos Lobo said with a smile: "Perhaps one or two Asturian players might not be happy, but once an Asturian player scores as many goals as that, we'll erect another bust next to it." He also revealed that the federation is preparing "something big" with Villa, with details to be announced soon.

"This Bust Represents All of Asturian Football"

Villa began his speech with humor. He thanked Iglesias Luelmo "for another work of art, just like you did in Langreo," and joked about the bust's appearance: "After seeing this statue, I realized I'm much better-looking in bronze than in real life—which isn't saying much."

Villa emphasized that the bronze bust carries a collective memory. He said: "I don't want to take all the credit for myself. Perhaps I'm here because I'm Spain's all-time leading goal scorer, but I have always represented all Asturian players." This honor includes those who wore the Spanish national team jersey, the Asturian regional team jersey, and those who made Asturian football great.

Villa also mentioned Juan Mata and Santi Cazorla. He said: "In many of those goals, I was fortunate to have such outstanding Asturian teammates, and many of those 59 goals were created by them. I hope people see Asturian players as a whole, not just David Villa."

Reflecting on his early days, Villa mentioned the two clubs that shaped him. First, Unión Popular de Langreo, where he started playing at age eight and "grew up as a player and as a person." Then came Sporting Gijón, "the strongest team in Asturias," which recognized his talent and brought him into professional football, where he played two and a half seasons in the first team. Villa said: "Both clubs bear great responsibility for the David Villa I became, both as a player and as a person."

Villa said that wherever he goes, he "proudly carries the Asturian flag," even in celebratory gestures like "clinking glasses when drinking apple cider." He stated: "Whether I wore the jersey of Barcelona, Atlético Madrid, Valencia, or Zaragoza, David Villa was born, raised, and developed his skills on the pitches of Asturias."

He also gave special mention to his family. His parents often drove him between the fields of Unión Popular de Langreo and Sporting Gijón, and his sisters were always by his side. His wife Patricia and their children could not attend due to the trip but were represented by Patricia's parents and brother. Villa ended with a wish: "I hope that if one day someone surpasses me, it will be an Asturian, a player who grew up on Asturian soil, like I was fortunate to do."

A Jersey, a Membership Card, and an Oviedo Joke

Langreo reciprocated Villa's affection with a gift. President Adrián Torre presented him with his old club jersey and a membership card. This was also a token of appreciation for the man who helped resolve the club's debt problems a few months earlier.

The event's most lighthearted moment came from Carlos Muñoz. The Oviedo legend looked at Villa and said: "Look, you can still play. Oviedo needs a number 9 striker—interested?" Villa's visit also served as a warm-up for the Spanish national team's upcoming match, as Spain will face the Czech Republic on Saturday this week.

Website AF đã ra mắt! Xem tin tức đầy đủ, bình luận, chi tiết trận đấu và thống kê trên máy tính. Truy cập: www.allfootballapp.com