In Los Palacios y Villafranca, a town around 20 kilometres south of Seville, local pride is again gathering around Fabián Ruiz. The Paris Saint-Germain midfielder has been nominated for the Ballon d’Or, and his hometown is preparing a public show of support for a player whose recent season has carried him across France, Europe and the Spanish national side.
The news from the club
The municipal council has arranged an event for Thursday at the town’s municipal theatre, backing Ruiz’s candidacy for football’s leading individual award.
Players and sports journalists are due to take part in an evening reflecting on the midfielder’s career and the honours collected during the previous campaign. Ruiz won the French league title and the Champions League with Paris Saint-Germain, while also lifting a world title with Spain.
Los Palacios has made a habit of celebrating its most prominent footballers. Ruiz, Jesús Navas and Pablo Páez Gavira have all received recognition in the town following their World Cup and European title successes. The latest gathering places Ruiz’s Ballon d’Or nomination at the centre of that local tradition.
Spain’s route through Seville and Oviedo
Ruiz is currently away with Spain. He did not feature in the victory over England, and returns to Seville on Monday ahead of Tuesday’s meeting with Croatia at the Ramón Sánchez-Pizjuán.
After the match in Andalusia, Spain will travel north to Oviedo, where they are scheduled to face the Czech Republic on Saturday.
