BERLIN: Spanish central midfielder Fabian Ruiz was not on many people's radar when Euro 2024 began after struggling to hold down a starting place at Paris St Germain and the national team.
But after a string of dazzling performances in Germany, he is finally making fans and pundits take note.
The 28-year-old Fabian, as he is known, has been a motor for Spain during their six-win charge to Sunday's final against England in Berlin's Olympiastadion where his team are after a record fourth Euros title.
Fabian has been one of the uplifting stories of the tournament, becoming a cornerstone of coach Luis de la Fuente's project after almost two years being overlooked by former boss Luis Enrique who left him out of the 2022 World Cup squad.
De la Fuente has long admired Fabian, having worked with him for years when head coach of Spain's academy system.
They won the Under-21 Euros in 2019 together, with Fabian named best player of the tournament.
Fabian was thriving then under the guidance of Napoli manager Carlo Ancelotti, who had signed him for 30 million euros (US$32.7 million) from Betis a year earlier and became fond of the hardworking skinny kid born in a humble Seville suburb.
MOTHER CLEANED AT SAME CLUB
In Betis' youth ranks, he managed to secure his mother work as a cleaner for the club, a job that she kept for 14 years.
"There are not many players who can say they have shared a dressing room with their mother," Fabian told El Periodico de Espana outlet last week.
"Having my mother every day where we worked was a rare thing. I saw her every day cleaning the dressing room where I played ... But of course it was an inspiration and a source of pride. My mother's signing for Betis is one of the best signings of my career."
Under Ancelotti at Napoli, he became a regular with Spain's senior squad under caretaker Robert Moreno, but fell out of favour under his successor Enrique.
Even after moving to Paris St Germain, Fabian could not earn a senior call-up until De la Fuente took the reins last year.
"I will never forget what I have been through, where I come from and what it has cost me to get here. When you come from so far down, you value this a lot and that helps you to keep fighting for it," he said.
Now, as one of De la Fuente's most trusted soldiers in Germany, Fabian has been the complete package, box-to-box, with a powerful left foot from long distance.
In Germany, he has scored twice, provided two assists, completed 92pct of passes, and created three clear chances, making him one of the most effective players in the tournament.
"Fabian is an exceptional player, world class," De la Fuente said after the 4-1 win over Georgia where Fabian was man-of-the-match with a goal and assist.
"Fabian is a representation of all those players who have been in the shadows and should get media recognition for everything they are doing."--REUTERS