New Oldham Athletic signing Urko Vera believes he is in the perfect place to be playing his football after joining the club.
Vera has been around Boundary Park for the past few days and he says there is a real family feel in the place.
“I have really enjoyed my first few days. The way the coaches and players are is very close and this is very important.” He said.
“I have met the manager, and everyone has introduced themselves to me, this club is like a family and to get to places, you need your family and you need to be close.”
Vera came through the youth system at Spanish club Atletico Bilbao and has even scored in the La Liga for the club.
He’s been around many different Spanish clubs as well as venturing to Romania to play his trade, but he says a chance to play in England was one he couldn’t turn down.
Vera knows it will be tough adapting to English football, but he hopes people will judge him based on his performances for the club.
“For me it is a dream to play in England because like Spain, it is one of the best countries to play football with great followings and support. I am very happy to be here.” He commented.
“It will be tough because it is much more professional and, I think that there is a lot more competition for places, but I am ready to work.
“I would rather people make an opinion of me when they get to see me, but I am a fighter and I love a battle.”
Vera joins the club with Latics just five points off the playoffs.
The former La Liga goalscorer believes that the playoffs will be the minimum target for him, and he is hoping to contribute as much as he can to achieve that goal.
“The first objective is the target set by the coaches but the obvious one is promotion or minimum play-offs and getting the club back up where it should be.
“I am going to give everything I can in order to do that, it will take work, but it is achievable.”
Vera is also looking forward to playing in front of the Latics fans after being told how good they are as supporters from players and staff around the club.
He believes that the fans are essential to any team and the supporters will be vital in a push for promotion.
“Players come and go but the fans are always here week in week out, without fans football is nothing. They are the twelfth man and we need them to stick together, the players love that.
“Although we come in to work, on a Saturday when we are all as one and work together it really helps and hopefully, we can get up the table.”