The third most valuable Spanish center forward in the world plays for Sporting de Braga. And Abel Ruiz (Almusafes, 2000) is only surpassed by Álvaro Morata and Gerard Moreno in the ranking made by Transfermarkt, a website that specializes in market values.. It costs, according to the portal, 14 million euros, compared to 20 for the rojiblanco and 15 for the Villarreal attacker.

Raised in La Masia and constantly advised by David Villa, the Valencian took off from Barcelona and opted for the Portuguese dream, which has led him to be a starting striker for a Champions League team.. After captaining the Spanish U21 team in the last European Championship, he now receives Real Madrid in small Braga with the hope of causing a surprise. There he chats with EL MUNDO.

Historic match for the city. We are looking forward to it. It is a historic match for Braga. There is a lot of excitement after the great preliminary phase that the team had in the Champions League.. Against Naples we couldn't score but we played a great game and at Unión Berlin's home we achieved a very important victory for us. We are in a good dynamic, we want to take one more step and get our hands on Madrid. In January it will be four years here. What is your balance? At first it was obviously difficult for me, mainly because of the language.. When I arrived, the team was made up of Portuguese and Brazilians, so I had to adapt very quickly. In two months I tried to speak Portuguese and everything went well. It is a very familiar club, they supported me a lot, and I am very grateful. Every year more Spaniards come to Portuguese football, most recently Roberto Martínez, the coach. Now many are coming to play here. There are four of us in our team. Spanish football is seeing that in Portugal there are opportunities and level, which you can show yourself. We have managed to reach the Champions League and Portugal is growing a lot, it is a league that is not easy, any team can beat you and in Europe the clubs are doing an incredible job. You are the third most valuable Spanish center forward, but you could say that there are few 'nines' in our football. Do you think it is like that? Is it a coincidence? I think there is a good level of forwards in Spain. Now Morata and Joselu are giving a very good level. I don't think they put up barriers or anything like that. We Spanish forwards try to do our job, help our teams… What I do believe is that those of us who are in the Portuguese league do not have as much visibility because it is a league that is not seen in Spain. Maybe that's why we don't have the visibility of others, but it's growing and a lot of people should watch the games here. You come from being captain of the U21 team in the last European Championship. Is there a future? Yes, good generations are coming. Spain is nourished by the generations that come from below, who are very strong. It's about growing and improving. In Spain there is a very good youth system and it is demonstrated by all the championships that have been achieved. What does David Villa advise you? It is incredible to be able to talk to someone like him on a day-to-day basis. With the player he has been and with the person he is, very kind and close. He cared about me at all times and that is appreciated.. I always try to take his advice as much as possible because he has a lot of experience, he has experienced many things and I try to draw everything I can from him. How difficult was it to leave La Masia? Few make such a brave decision.. And here he is, playing in the Champions League. It's difficult, a very complicated decision.. I was in a great club surrounded by great players and very comfortable, but in the end I was not having the opportunities that I thought I could have and I wanted to take another step in my career.. That's why I made that decision. Braga came very strong, with a very clear idea for me and that is why we accepted it. I do not regret. At Barça it is very comfortable, I wanted to get out of that comfort zone and I think it turned out well. I'm playing in the Champions League against Madrid. What advice would you give to young people? They usually say that 15 minutes in one place are worth more than 90 in another. Many times it was said that it was cold outside Barça. At that moment I had no doubt. If you see that a club wants you, bet on you and give you the opportunity because it is worth thinking about.. You should not think that your career has to be yes or yes in a club like Barça. It depends on each player, but it's not cold outside of Barça at all.. I think that I would tell the kids who come from below to learn as much as possible, to be nourished by the day-to-day life of these great players, but that a decision like the one I made, to leave a great club, is not at all a bad decision. There are always opportunities elsewhere. What team is Braga? Very offensive, very brave. Here at home we are strong and we try to hurt the rival, and we are not going to change our style because we play against Madrid. I think we have good weapons to hurt them, knowing that they are a great club that will make it difficult for us. We will try to find your tickles, which will be few. What is life like in Braga? It is a very quiet city, almost like a town. It's not very big and almost everyone knows each other.. I am quite comfortable from the first day I arrived, Braga welcomed me very well, being able to go out on the street, have people embrace you, encourage you and remember you is nice. Tell me about your idols. I have always noticed Villa. Spanish, playing in Valencia and Barcelona… He was my reference in terms of play and movements. Now I pay a lot of attention to Lewandowski, I really like the way he moves. David took sure steps in his career, Gijón, Zaragoza, Valencia, Barcelona… He didn't start from 0 to 100. In his case he has moved on from Barça to Braga. Does that put more pressure on you? I guess you never know. Who knows if I had stayed in Barcelona I would have played at the level of demand and time that I am playing now…. People don't have to be afraid of leaving clubs like Barça. Everyone takes their own path, I took mine and I'm happy. Logic invites us to think that the captain of the U21 team will be in the senior team at some point. Do you have it in your head? It is a goal, an illusion since I was little. Arriving and staying there for many years. With everything I have enjoyed in the youth team, I want to continue growing in the national team.