Recently, Celta Vigo legend Iago Aspas stated in an exclusive interview with the program "Feeberse" that Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo are players of the same caliber, adding that he still greatly enjoys watching them play.
How about we imagine you as a future sporting director, Aspas?
Absolutely no problem.
Let’s recall an interview from roughly six or seven years ago—you mentioned a very obscure player back then.
Yes, I remember. They asked me about a player, and I brought up an Iranian named Saman Ghoddos. I think many people hadn’t even heard of him at the time.
He actually nearly joined Celta, but there were some contractual issues with Osasuna or another club beforehand. In the end, he went to Brentford in England, who were still in the Championship then, and only completed the transfer after the dispute was resolved. I recently saw he’s playing in the UAE now.
If you were to compete against a legendary sporting director like Maldini in terms of scouting talent, who do you think would win?
Haha, I’d guess it might be him. After all, he definitely watches far more football than I do these days.
But even he must have made mistakes—just like all of us. When you recommend someone by saying, “Try signing this player,” and they don’t work out, everyone says, “What’s wrong with this guy?” That’s completely normal. But in terms of sheer volume of matches watched, he’s definitely ahead of me—that’s for sure.
Can you name a player who isn’t well known yet but has really impressed you?
(Laughs) I won’t say anything right now. The transfer window is still open—if we’re evaluating a player and the news leaks out, a financially stronger club could easily snatch him away, and that would put us in a tough spot.
But I often cite Antony as an example. A few years ago, when he was about to join Ajax, we were already monitoring him. Ajax bought him and later sold him to Manchester United for a huge fee. He didn’t quite settle in the Premier League and has now moved to Betis.
You see, environment makes a huge difference for a player—he needs to feel wanted and supported. Now that he’s back at Betis, his market value is around €20–25 million, but you know he’s a player who could easily be worth €50 million.
If you had to recommend a midfielder to Real Madrid to strengthen their technical quality—who do you think they should sign? They seem to lack a technically gifted midfielder.
Hmm… I’m not sure if they truly lack one, given that Real Madrid always has top-tier players. They have Dani Ceballos, who’s extremely technical.Still, there are certainly players they could have signed—like Martín Zubimendi, who was recently available in the Spanish market but ended up at Arsenal. I’m not sure if they paid his release clause. Real Madrid has the financial power—they could have completed that signing and many others. Zubimendi is the first name that comes to mind; he’s a Spanish international.
Do you know that much-discussed 19- or 20-year-old youngster from AZ Alkmaar? His name sounds like “Smit”?
No, I don’t know him. I haven’t watched him play live. Like many others, I’ve only seen his highlight reels. I recall the Dutch national team coach was also asked about him—he said people were comparing him to Pedri and urged everyone to stay calm.
Because nowadays, every new talent is instantly labeled the “new Messi,” “new de Jong,” “new Pedri,” or “new Yamal.” We need more patience. Reaching the elite level is incredibly difficult.You might start off brilliantly, but maintaining consistency—that’s the hardest part for young players.
Suppose you had a blank check and could sign any player—tell us the name of someone you’d say, “This guy will be amazing,” even though he’s not famous yet.
(Laughs) Of course I won’t say it now. Seriously though—if it weren’t a blank check, but rather someone I’d personally want to bring to Celta… there are many players I admire in the Segunda División right now; the level is very high. I think four or five of them could easily thrive in La Liga.
For example, Sergio Arribas from Almería, and Cruz, whom Deportivo just signed—I really liked him when he was at Tenerife. Carlos Álvarez from Levante UD is also good… There are many underrated players in the Segunda who would be excellent additions for us or other mid-to-lower-table La Liga clubs. It’s easy to find a striker who can score 20 goals, but given Celta’s style, I think these types of players fit better—even though their prices in the Segunda aren’t low anymore.
As a sporting director, how much would you value a 25-year-old Aspas in his prime?
That’s hard to say. In today’s football market, prices are unpredictable. I don’t set prices myself, so I don’t know what’s considered high or low. A player’s worth depends on how much someone is willing to pay for him.
If my release clause were €10 million, they’d pay €10 million; if it were €60 million, maybe they’d pay… say, €40 million? Like Zubimendi—his release clause was €60 million, and they paid the full amount. At Real Sociedad, he might have cost even more. Maybe a 25-year-old Aspas scoring 20 goals with a €25 million release clause would just be signed for that amount—as long as my personal terms could be agreed upon.
You also communicate with referees during matches. Can you understand Vinícius’s emotional reactions on the pitch, or do you think he sometimes crosses the line?
I can’t really judge, because I’m not in his situation. It’s true that sometimes, especially in front of hostile away fans or opposing defenders, he shows frustration—even seeming to direct it at opponents. Maybe he should channel that energy more into the game itself. But saying that is easy for me, because I—especially when I was younger—went through many similar moments and felt the same emotions and challenges he faces.The problem is, it’s very easy for away fans to provoke him, distract him, and prevent him from showcasing his incredible talent. That day, Simeone was trying to do exactly that from the sidelines.
Has anyone ever provoked you like that and affected your performance?
Of course—many opponents have done that. Especially when I was in the Segunda, before VAR was widespread. I definitely picked up a lot of yellow cards—and even got sent off—because of it. I was young and didn’t know how to control myself yet. Sure, I’ve improved a lot with age. But it’s something ingrained in you—you can never fully control it or eliminate it 100%.
Let’s move to rapid-fire questions. In terms of beauty, technique, and spectacle, which goal in your career was the most beautiful?
Maybe the one at home against Granada, near the far post? Or the chip against Espanyol. I also scored a particularly difficult one against Barcelona—in stoppage time, with a turn… the ball came from behind me, very hard to control. I’ve scored plenty—I can pick.
What was the best match of your career?
In terms of personal significance, probably the 4-1 home win over Barcelona. Before that, I was in poor form and barely getting minutes at Sevilla. It was my third or fourth home game after returning, and it felt like I’d rediscovered myself—regained the confidence that I could still play at that level. That victory was important not just for the team—we were facing a Barça side with Neymar, Messi, and Suárez—but it also gave me back a positive mindset.
Which defender gave you the toughest time or caused you the most trouble?
Probably Sergio Ramos. We faced each other so many times—he must have fouled me a thousand times, and I surely clashed with him just as often. But in the end, we got along well. We played together for the national team, and he was captain. On the pitch, it’s a different story.
Which goalkeeper made you feel the most pressure?
I’d say Courtois. Not mainly because of his saves, but because of his sheer size—he practically fills the entire goal, making you feel like there’s almost no space to shoot. Of course, he’s also genuinely outstanding.
Which coach influenced you the most?
Many coaches have left their mark on me. At every stage, different coaches shaped me—sometimes positively, sometimes less so, sometimes off the pitch. Early on, Paco Herrera meant a lot to me and helped me greatly. And now, Claudio—despite my career nearing its end—still teaches me something every day and brings fresh ideas from the new generation of coaches.
Aside from Balaídos, which stadium do you like the most?
The easy answers would be Camp Nou or Bernabéu. But I’d choose San Mamés. Everything about that stadium—from the locker room to the tunnel—has a special atmosphere, a sense of occasion, even when the teams aren’t giants like Real Madrid or Barcelona. I pick San Mamés.
Which opposing player do you admire the most?
In terms of admiration, Messi and Ronaldo. I could also mention many teammates—like Borja Oubiña, whose humility and down-to-earth nature made academy players feel comfortable… that’s exactly how I’d hope today’s kids entering the first team would talk about me.But Messi and Ronaldo are on the same level. Messi possesses that innate gift to perfect everything he does; Ronaldo has that relentless drive, never giving up, constantly pushing himself—thanks to which we can still enjoy both of their football today.
What technical skill do you wish you had but lack?
Heading. Maybe. Although I’ve scored many goals in my career, I haven’t netted many with my head.
Who would be your role model as a sporting director?
Marco Gacesa, because I work with him daily and we talk often. Also Felipe Miñambres and Miguel Torresilla—I frequently chat with them too. I mention these three because they’re right here, and I can communicate directly with them. Of course, the obvious name is Monchi—I worked with him at Sevilla and have a great relationship with him. But at Celta, I learn more from these three on a daily basis, and they involve me in decisions, often seeking my input.
Finally, make a prediction: How far will Spain go in the World Cup? And how far can Celta go in the Europa League?
(Spain) Hopefully, champions. (Celta) First, win our next match and advance to the next round—then we’ll see. But I hope we can go as far as possible, at least matching or even surpassing our results from previous seasons. Still, we must take it step by step—first, win the next game.