Javi Martínez (!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!) at El Mundo

The extra !!!!! are because I love this interview with Javi Martínez.  In it, he talks about his beloved Ayegui, being embarrassed to model underwear, what his favorite song this summer is, and what his daily grooming routine consists of (basically nothing).  Javi (!!!) is all sorts of adorable in this interview, so I recommend you read it in a place where no one can hear you for the parts where you’re going to squeal out loud (and there are many.  Consider that a friendly warning).

The smile is friendly, but a bit forced.  The words are correct, but monotonous.  Half an hour staying composed in front of a swarm of journalists.  The same questions, identical responses.  No more than seven minutes for each one.  At the age of 22, Javi Martínez is used to the mixed zone, but when we try to talk about the other Javi Martínez, the one that shows up when football boots are exchanged for flip flops, he says, “not right now, call me this afternoon.”

It’s past 10 o’clock at night, and the team is only a few hours away from traveling to Denmark.  He has accepted our proposal to chat about his life outside of football.  He says, almost apologetically, “I’m happy to talk about it, but I only do normal things, what any 22-year-old guy does.  I play Play, I go to the movies, I watch TV, I like to follow the NBA finals… the only limit I have is when it comes to other sports, to avoid injuries.  If I didn’t have any limits, I would ski and surf.”

He doesn’t even hook up more than other guys.  He comments while laughing, “I haven’t noticed that it’s easier to hook up as a world champion.”  At the moment, he doesn’t have girlfriend and when he gets one, he won’t publicize his romance like Piqué.  “A relationship like that, one where you’re constantly pursued, would wear me out.  But they look happy.”  He changes the topic: “I’m very family-oriented and I go back to my pueblo whenever I can.”  Ayegui is constantly brought up in the conversation.  His family lives there, his lifelong friends are there, and it’s there where he disconnects and has fun.  He even lent his image to an underwear firm, Soy Underwear.*  Javi won’t go into details, but a Google search finds many photos and the making of video, where the footballer showed off his sculpted abs and revealed himself to be a sex symbol [this is the translation, not what I myself wrote!!!].  But he modestly denies this: “Whatever!  I’m not vain at all.  I don’t even do my hair.  The only cosmetic I use is deodorant, and not always (laughs).  I don’t understand clothing brands, I buy the first thing I see in the store window.”  He explains that he lent his image to Soy Underwear “because it’s a company from my hometown, I’m friends with them and I wanted to help the brand.”  He adds, “I wanted the experience, but I was so embarrassed.”  Right now, he doesn’t plan to do more of these types of promotions (¿¿¿qué???) and says, “I prefer to be known as a footballer.”

[I didn’t think it was possible for Javi (!!!) to be even more adorable, but that last paragraph did it.]

One word: morritos.

(Skipping some football things…)

He still gets emotional when remembering Iniesta’s goal in the final.  “We were on the bench, and all very nervous.  And in the overtime, after so many occasions, the goal came, it was a total liberation.  I remember that we all jumped up and we ran the fastest sprint of our lives.  I can tell my grandchildren one day that I was there… it’s incredible!”  [Oh dear, Javi (!!!) speaking about grandchildren makes my thoughts wander…]

(More football stuff, and then they end with a little test.)

One.  After the Europeo?  Ibiza.

Two.  Caribbean sun or a cool summer?  Sun, the kind that burns.  I’m one of those that likes to roast in the sun.  It relaxes me.

Three.  What do you do when there’s a summer storm?  Go to the txoko with my friends from Ayegui.

Four.  Horchata or tinto de verano (red wine with carbonated lemonade)?  A glass of beer.

Five.  To disconnect, there’s nothing like… going to my hometown.

Six.  Sports during vacation?  Yes, basketball.

Seven.  This summer’s song?  “Gettin’ Over You” by  David Guetta.  I love it!

That’s it?  There are no more questions?  It was fun.

Yes, it was Javi (!!!), yes it was.

* if your memory needs refreshing, go here, here, here, here AND here.