Aitana Bonmatí (Sant Pere de Ribes, 1998), not only dazzles with her skill with the ball, but in front of a microphone she also knows how to choose the right words to convey her message. She is endlessly competitive on the field of play, outside of it she cultivates the most charitable facet of her as ambassador of the Johan Cruyff Foundation, in honor of whom she chose the number '14' for her with the Blaugrana elastic. In an interview with Jordi Basté in 'El món a Rac1' she talks about her character as a fighter, her family, her phobias and about the importance of her mental health.
The Blaugrana midfielder has had no qualms about talking about it for a long time because she wants to dismantle all the myths that surround the decision to go to therapy: “Going to the psychologist is not crazy, it is totally normal. I talk about it openly because it's still taboo and let's not kid ourselves, everyone here suffers and has problems."
Aitana openly admits that she started going to a psychologist when she was very young: “I have been going to a psychologist since I was 13 years old. I had a bit of a difficult time on a personal level and the fact that these things have been discussed naturally in my family helped. My parents had also gone to therapy at some point in their lives”, explains the blaugrana. Beyond the demands that she experiences in her day-to-day life as a professional footballer, for Aitana Bonmatí "self-knowledge is very important". “I am a footballer, but first I am a person. Going to the psychologist is an investment for you as a person that you will see over the years. It's a long process of gaining self-esteem, confidence... everyone has their fears and when we keep them to ourselves, the ball gets big and then it's more complicated. I recommend everyone not to be afraid to go to the psychologist, ”she encourages.
Throughout the interview, he also reveals his passion for literature, especially about World War II: “At home they have always instilled in me that reading is important. I like doing it, it helps me to disconnect and it is a way of always continuing to learn”, explains Aitana, the daughter of two Catalan language and literature teachers. She is also in love with her native ‘Ribes’ – “those of us here do not like to be called Sant Pere de Ribes” – where she continues to live and support the same group of friends she grew up with. Without forgetting the most rebellious facet of her, inherited from her parents: “I am a born fighter thanks to my parents. Since I was little I have lived at home what fighters they have been ”, says an Aitana who bears her maternal surname thanks to the legal battle initiated by her parents and which allowed the parents to choose the order of the surnames of her children .
At 25, the best teams in the world -including Olympique de Lyon- have fought over her, but she rejected all offers and renewed for Barça until 2025. "I'm proud that the best clubs love me, but this It's my home and I felt that the best way to continue growing was to be here”, says the Catalan midfielder. An Aitana who, when she hangs up her boots, wants to "continue to be linked to professional football." More than the benches, she is interested in sports management “both for women and men. There is a lack of many women in these areas ”and she dreams of doing it in her house:“ In a club like Barça I would be happy ”.
