""I don't want to come here and my only takeaway being an improvement in my ability on the pitch," he says. "I want to show the supporters that I'm really interested in the culture and the language, and I actually want to connect with them, so they understand me not just as a player but also as a person.""
""They weren't just colleagues," he says. "They were family.""
Tyrhys Dolan, 23, progressed from playing for non-league Clitheroe five years ago to becoming an integral Espanyol forward. He joined Espanyol in July after rejecting a new contract at Blackburn, ending a five-year stay that began when Blackburn signed him following his release by Preston. Dolan experienced multiple rejections and periods without a club and coped with the devastating suicide of his best friend. He aims to integrate into Barcelona by learning Spanish and embracing local culture, seeking connection with supporters beyond on-pitch performance. He will make his Catalan derby debut against Barcelona, mirroring Marcus Rashford's appearance.
Read at www.bbc.com
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