David Raya is a Catalan who grew up supporting Real Madrid. He has spent his entire professional career in England since.
Now he is saying, in public, that he wants to come back.
The Arsenal goalkeeper gave the interview to Marca this week, published a day before Arsenal’s trip to Bayern Munich, and the central line was unmistakable.
“Yes, I would love to. I would love to try out LaLiga,” Raya told Marca.
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“For now, I’m very happy here [at Arsenal], but I would certainly like to experience the Spanish league.”
The 31-year-old’s contract with the Gunners runs until June 2028, which leaves this season and one more before Arsenal would need to extend, sell or let him go on a free.
“I think it’s a very competitive league. Perhaps, in the future, I could play for a Spanish club. I’m Spanish, and I’d love to play there, that’s for sure.”
A Palleja boy with a Casillas poster
Raya was born in Palleja, about 20km (12 miles) from Barcelona, into a family of Real Madrid supporters, with Iker Casillas as his boyhood idol. He joined Blackburn at 16 and has spent his entire professional career in England.
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That is what makes the Marca interview notable. He is not demanding a transfer, and he said more than once that he is happy at Arsenal. But the ambition is on the record, in a Spanish newspaper, with the Ballon d’Or ceremony five days away in London and his club in the middle of its biggest European month.
“A perfect year”, with one gap
Raya described the previous campaign as the best of his career.
“I believe I’ve had a perfect year. Perhaps the only thing missing was playing in the World Cup.”
He won the Premier League with Arsenal, lifted the Community Shield and claimed a third consecutive Golden Glove, while remaining on the bench behind Unai Simón for Spain’s entire World Cup run. Mikel Arteta’s side arrive in Munich with two wins from two in the Champions League league phase, after beating Napoli 1-0 and Lille 3-0.
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Two years to decide
Raya’s deal still has nearly two years to run, which gives Arsenal both time and leverage, and he did not ask to leave. But a first-choice goalkeeper publicly naming the league he wants to end his career in will not go unnoticed in Madrid.
“I want to win it all,” he told Marca about Arsenal’s goals this season.
Kick-off at the Allianz Arena is at 9pm local time on Wednesday.
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