Ryan Leak is one of nine Wolves players who are currently playing for the Spanish Segunda División B side, and during his time at Jumilla, the 20-year-old has been taking weekly Spanish lessons to enable him to improve his communication with teammates.
The defender has featured in 11 of Jumilla’s last 14 league matches and has taken well to life – and football – across the continent.
On settling in Spain
“The first few weeks and first month was quite difficult. We were in the hotel and didn’t have cars, so getting around and having a bit of freedom was quite difficult. But now we’ve all got our own apartments – well most of us anyway – and our own cars.
“The lads here are good with us as well. I get on with most of them quite well, they’re proper friendly and some speak English, some don’t, so we’ve got to try and speak Spanish to them which is difficult, but everyone’s been very welcoming.”
On taking Spanish lessons
“It’s been alright. Learning a different language comes with the new experience of coming over here. We currently have two lessons a week, so my Spanish is improving.”
On differences to England
“The weather. Not now, but before at the start of the loan spell it was very hot, but now it’s got cooler. There’s also a different style of football here, and although Wolves are now playing the way Spanish teams do, it’s still different.”
On his Jumilla targets
“My aim is to just play as many games as possible. I’ve had a good run in the team, played quite a lot of games and I think I’ve done well. I just need to kick on from his point now and see what comes.”
On playing friendly against Wolves Academy
“It was a good test. It was weird playing against people you know, but it was a game at the end of the day and I thought we played well.
“I was glad that some of the boys who haven’t been playing as often got a few minutes, which was good for them.”
Away from Jumilla, Rafa Mir has scored four goals in 14 Spanish La Liga 2 matches for UD Las Palmas, while Phil Ofosu-Ayeh has netted once and set up two goals during his seven appearances for German 3. Liga club Hansa Rostock.
Roderick Miranda made his first Olympiacos start in six Greek Super League matches on Sunday, playing the full 90 minutes in the team’s 3-0 win over PAS Lamia 1964. The defender was also on the bench during Olympiacos’ 3-1 victory over AC Milan in the Europa League last week.
Slovakian Fortuna Liga team Dunajská Streda have qualified for the league’s Championship group after Christian Herc helped the club finished second in the league. They will now play a mini-league between the top six teams to see who qualifies for next season’s Champions League and Europa League.
