After the big season of his career, Sean Weissman started 2020/21 with an unfamiliar burden: expectations. The Israeli striker who moved from Wolfsberger, after a year of 30 goals in all competitions, to Valladolid – arrived as the most expensive acquisition of the Spanish club ever, and as such he played – more than once – with “weights on his feet”. After scoring his third goal of the season on Saturday, Weissman took the time to speak, in an interview for “Open Ground”: about life in the new city, the relationship with owner Ronaldo, and also about the new life as a father.
“I am glad that I kept my word,” he declared at the beginning of the interview, “and that we will not meet in Israel in January. I am in Spain, it is fun here and the situation is relatively good for the world.” Did he deal with the impatience around him? “The truth is that the support I get is amazing. From the crowd, from the press, from the professional team as well. I was sure they would be impatient, but I really got tremendous support. Things didn’t work out at first, but anyone who understands football, and knows how to be patient, understood. “Today, after scoring three goals and achieving an important victory, this is just the beginning – and I do not intend to stop. I am always hungry.”
Later, he also told about the club he came to: “Valladolid is like Wolfsberger, but 10 times more. I have a lot of fun here, there are amazing people here, Spaniards are like Israelis, you could say. Although the Corona has stopped the world, and you can not walk around like before, but “I can still feel the fans and it’s fun. I just hope to keep going.”
Also about the owner of the club, the Brazilian Ronaldo, he said: “He is relatively involved. He has 3-5 people close to him, who are there every day and make sure everything is as it should be. It is a great honor that he is here, he talks and explains and gives tips, he told me: “Whatever it is, I’m here for you. I think he’s the greatest striker in history. His involvement is strong, but he does not interfere with the coach. His advice has meaning.”
Part of the presence in the Spanish league, means struggles with the biggest players in the world. For example, he told about a moment with a stopper and captain of Real Madrid – Sergio Ramos. “I went up to the ball in front of him, and he yelled at the referee: Paul, Paul. I said to him, ‘This is not Paul, you are a strong guy.’ He replied, ‘Not Paul? Try to get the ball next time.’ I told him: No, no, and I went. On the other side, “he laughed.
And what about Messi? “I’m not the type to get excited, I’d concentrate on the game at all, but it’s fun to see the greatest player in history. At least I can say I was part of history (Messi scored against Valladolid the goal that helped him overtake Pele). It’s fun to play against the best players in the world.”
But lately an even more significant event has happened in Weissman’s life: he has become a father. “It’s the purest and best goal there is,” he laughed, “I wish everyone such a thing. It’s the best thing that has happened to me in my life. Just be healthy, and we will all be, with this unpleasant situation.” And finally – he did not forget to send greetings to his previous team as well. “Will Maccabi Haifa take the championship? If not now, then when? I am happy for them, and I keep my fingers crossed for everyone. “
