Real Betis’s Borja Iglesias: ‘Playing at Old Trafford, how cool is that?’

The boyish Real Betis striker affectionately nicknamed ‘the Panda’ is relishing a Europa League tie against Manchester United

The lights are out and everyone’s gone, even the kit man whose job it is to pack away and lock up. Well, almost everyone. Borja Iglesias is still at the Benito Villamarín, ice on his knee, bandage on his wrist, in his training kit. The teammate waiting to go to dinner has left – sorry, Andrés – and the entrance is locked but he’s inside talking about, well, everything really. The goal that brought Real Betis’s first trophy in 17 years and how it’s good getting kicked, pressure, popularity and being called the Panda, plus painting his nails and why more footballers should speak out.

There’s a lot to say. Fond of his Leica and rolls of 35mm film, when Iglesias finally heads towards an empty, silent dressing room where only his stuff remains, he pauses to ask the photographer whether they can go and take pictures together. “Just not this week; this week’s busy,” he says. “I’m going to Old Trafford.” And with that, he cracks up again.

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