Ruben Pardo: I waited a year for the right project – now I’m ready to prove myself again

After spending a year without a club, Ruben Pardo has finally found the challenge he was waiting for. The former Real Sociedad midfielder has joined Krasava FC in Cyprus and is determined to show that his quality has never disappeared despite months away from competitive football.

Speaking to Flashscore from his hotel in Limassol before settling into his new home, the midfielder from La Rioja reflected on his fresh start, his years at Real Sociedad, his friendship with Mikel Oyarzabal, working under former Barcelona defender Dmytro Chygrynskyi, and the difficult period that almost led him to consider retirement.

A fresh start in Cyprus

Pardo is still settling into life in Cyprus after signing for Krasava.

“The first days are always about adapting, finding somewhere to live and getting to know the city. I’m still moving between hotels, but hopefully I’ll have my own place very soon.”

The move came after a frustrating year without playing, during which he patiently waited for the right opportunity.

“I was training back home in La Rioja, hoping a project would come along where I could enjoy football again. Then Krasava called me, and so did our coach, Chygrynskyi. He explained the project, said he’d love for me to join, and everything just made sense. I packed my bags and came here.”

Dmytro Chygrynskyi and the Pep Guardiola influence

One of the biggest factors behind Pardo’s move was coach Dmytro Chygrynskyi, the former Barcelona defender who played under Pep Guardiola.

Although English isn’t Pardo’s strongest language, communication wasn’t a problem.

“He told me, ‘Don’t worry Ruben, I’ll try with my Spanish.’ We understood each other perfectly. He explained the project really well and convinced me.”

The midfielder already sees Guardiola’s influence in his coach’s philosophy.

“He wants us to build from the back and dominate possession. That’s the football he learned and it’s something I also believe in. After only a couple of weeks, I’ve got a really good feeling.”

A young club with ambitious plans

Having spent nearly two weeks training with his new teammates, Pardo believes Krasava has plenty of room to grow.

“It’s a very young club, only around five years old. Last season they stayed in the top division for the first time and now everyone wants to keep improving. The experienced players have to help the younger ones grow.”

From Spain to Greece… and now Cyprus

After spending most of his career in Spain, Pardo first moved abroad when he joined Aris Thessaloniki.

“My family and I felt it was the right time for a new experience. Greece is actually very similar to Spain in terms of lifestyle and it was a fantastic experience.”

Cyprus, he says, feels much the same.

“It’s very similar to Greece. The only difficult thing has been driving on the left side of the road! But we’ll settle in.”

The strange Copa del Rey triumph

Pardo was part of Real Sociedad’s victorious Copa del Rey campaign, although he wasn’t at the club when the delayed final was played.

After featuring earlier in the competition, he left for Girondins de Bordeaux before the pandemic postponed the latter rounds.

“I watched the final from Albacete while I was at Leganes and celebrated like I was on the pitch.”

Despite contributing during the tournament, he never received a winners’ medal.

“Many people at Real told me it was my achievement too. It was a strange situation because I had already joined another club, but I still feel like I was part of that success.”

He even captained Real Sociedad during one of the early rounds.

Watching Girondins de Bordeaux collapse

Pardo admits warning signs were already visible during his short spell in France.

“You could see strange things happening inside the club. There were issues with travel, the training ground, protests from supporters… you could tell something wasn’t right.”

Looking back, he believes joining Leganes was the right decision.

“Bordeaux is a historic club, but it felt like something bad was coming. A couple of years later they had fallen all the way down the divisions.”

Why Real Sociedad is different

Few clubs develop academy players quite like Real Sociedad, according to Pardo.

Having joined the club as an 11-year-old before spending a decade in the first team, he credits the club’s culture.

“From the first day they treated me like a son. Leaving home at 11 wasn’t easy, but they looked after all of us. That’s why so many academy players reach the first team.”

Mikel Oyarzabal: “He’s like a brother”

One of Pardo’s closest friends remains Mikel Oyarzabal, who has become one of Spain’s biggest stars.

“He’s family. We speak almost every day. Seeing him win trophies makes me incredibly happy.”

Pardo says their friendship extends well beyond football.

“His family welcomed me like a son and he’s visited my hometown many times. He’s much more than a teammate.”

He also understands why Oyarzabal enjoys universal respect.

“He’s calm, humble and handles everything around him perfectly. It’s no coincidence he’s captain of Real Sociedad and Spain.”

Real Sociedad’s production line

Seeing so many academy graduates starring for Spain fills him with pride.

“The club works incredibly well from the academy right through to the first team. If you perform consistently in LaLiga and Europe, opportunities with Spain will come.”

Ready to prove himself again

Personally, this season means everything.

After a difficult year without football, Pardo admits there were moments when he questioned whether he should continue playing.

“It was tough. I had offers but none of them convinced me. There were moments when I thought about retiring.”

Instead, he kept working.

“My coaches kept pushing me to stay motivated. Then this opportunity arrived and it’s exactly what I was looking for. I’ve signed for one year and I want to play as many minutes as possible.”

Despite hoping for interest from Spain, no concrete offers arrived.

“I expected maybe a call from clubs in Spain, but it never happened. Krasava made it clear they really wanted me and that’s why I’m here.”

Discovering Cyprus

Away from football, Pardo plans to make the most of his time on the island.

“I want to explore Cyprus properly. I’ve heard wonderful things about Nicosia, Paphos and Larnaca. Once my family arrives, we’ll discover everything together.”

A message for Krasava supporters

His message to the fans is simple.

“Support us through the good times and the bad. I’ll give absolutely everything I have to help this club finish as high as possible.”