The Copa del Rey returned to Valencia after the tragic DANA. Manises had to play against Getafe in that fateful week in October when the water devastated everything and it was not until today that the game could be played. Along the way, more than 200 deathscountless material losses and very sad stories… Like that of Guillem Baixauli, forward of Manises.
Guillem, native of Picanya and current resident in Paiporta, He lost one of his best friends in DANA, the water took him away and she never heard from him again. Jose Castillejowhose absence was known nationally for whom Valencia CF gave public condolences for having passed through their quarry, former teammate of Toni Lato or Carlos Soler among others, was also a good friend of William.
“He caught him closing his business and… took him away. I want to play soccer today, I have to entertain myself with something.” but it will be very present. When lifelong friends get together, we only remember him, I remember nights with him, I had many friends at Valencia and sometimes we went with Lato, with Carlos Soler… He has been my friend all my life“Guillem, one of Manises’ leaders, explained to this media before the game.
So much so that he was present, that the good guy from Baixauli He did not hesitate to show a shirt with the name of his good friend when he was substituted. I had thought about the initiative before the game and in fact played the entire match with it below. It was clear to me that I was going to show it off either if I scored a goal or when I was substituted, it was in the second case: “He was a link between many people.was the joy of many, now that he is gone, we have become even more united.”
When his departure from the field was announced, he took off his Manises shirt and showed everyone his deceased friend’s shirt. He wore Castillejo’s name on his chest, his number 99. He showed it to the camera, raised his arms to the sky and left, visibly excited. A gesture that will go down in the history of this Copa del Rey and that only demonstrates the close link that football has with the misfortune that has devastated the Valencian people.
Guillem, soccer player and Levante UD fan Since he was little, he has been helping all these days in both Paiporta and Picanya. At the moment, like everyone, he continues day after day removing mud and that means he still hasn’t fully assimilated it: “We are very screwed, destroyed, but we do not assimilate it because we are very busy, there is still a lot of work here“. Today, Guillem and Manises played for José Castillejo, although he will always be present in his friend’s life.
