YEP 26/7/21 'It's a dream' - Leeds United hero Pablo Hernandez reflects on sealing emotional Castellon return
Leeds United hero Pablo Hernandez has spoken for the first time since securing an emotional move home to Castellón.
By Joe Urquhart
The 36-year-old said a tearful goodbye to Elland Road in May
ahead of his summer departure following a five-year stay in West Yorkshire.
Hernandez was a vital figure in the Whites resurgence back
to the Premier League, playing a decisive role in the club's promotion run-in a
year ago.
Leeds parted ways with the former Spain international as
they agreed to terminate his contract a year early so he could move home to be
with his family.
After assessing his options, Hernandez decided to move back
to where his career began nearly 20 years ago. He also still holds shares in
Castellón having helped the club stave off insolvency in 2017.
He was a youth player with his hometown team but was picked
up by La Liga outfit Valencia as a youngster.
Hernandez has now returned to the club where he has strong
family ties, penning a three-year contract which looks set to take him up to
potential retirement.
Castellón officially unveiled Hernandez as a player on
Monday and hung a poster of him on the Marathon Tower close to the club's home
ground where his grandparents used to work.
“I am very happy to be here accompanied by my family,"
Hernandez told the media.
"Playing one day at Castellón was a dream since I was
little when I came to Castalia with my father. This club means a lot to my
family, my mother grew up here, since my grandparents were in charge of taking
care of the old Castalia."
Castellón are currently in the third tier of Spanish football
following relegation last term.
Hernandez, though, is now hoping he can help his own club up
the divisions after playing a pivotal role for Leeds in recent seasons.
"The club has made a great effort to form a competitive
group that will fight for promotion. I am aware of that pressure due to the
expectations that my signing has generated," Hernandez added.
"However, the pressure has always helped me to improve
and bring out the best in myself. I have to use my experience to help my
colleagues. Despite being considered the leader, if we achieve the objectives
it will be an achievement for the whole group.
