Normal, isi aminteste fara nici cea mai mica ezitare data exacta a evenimentului: 17 aprilie 2004. “A fost una din cele mai norocoase zile din viata mea. Atunci a venit si Ronaldo la mine la spital si tot atunci am inceput si o relatie cu o asistenta de acolo, din spital, careia ii faceam de ceva vreme ochi dulci”, isi aminteste, mandru, Irinel Soceanu. Un zambet ghidus ii lumineaza fata si ochii mari, negri, ii sclipesc.
E oltean get-beget, vorbaret nevoie-mare si generos in detalii. Glumeste mult si isi insoteste aproape fiecare fraza cu gesturi largi. E fericit ca si-a putut indeplini un vis care, in mod sigur, ar fi ramas o himera. Si-a imbratisat idolul, pe Ro-naldo, starul echipei de fotbal Real Madrid. Intalnirea din aprilie anul trecut a fost raza de lumina care l-a ajutat sa strapunga intunericul in care il aruncase destinul.
Ranit intr-unul din trenurile aruncate in aer de teroristi, la 11 martie 2004, Irinel a stat mai mult de o luna in spital. Rade cand il intreb cum de i-a venit ideea de a solicita o intalnire cu Ronaldo. “Uitati cum a fost: la spitalul unde eram eu internat, Gergorio Maranon, au tot venit sa ne viziteze mai multe personalitati. Intr-o buna zi m-am trezit in salon cu regele si regina Spaniei. Ma gandisem eu de ceva vreme ca, daca tot ne intreaba cu ce ne pot ajuta, eu sa spun ca cea mai mare dorinta e sa-l vad pe Ronaldo. Si ma hotarasem sa-i spun regelui. Da nu stiu cum s-a facut ca m-am emotionat tare de tot si n-am mai zis nimic. Ceilalti doi raniti cu care eram in salon, un polonez si un spaniol, radeau de mine ca n-am avut curaj. Si atunci mi-am zis ca data viitoare, daca mai vine vreo personalitate, ii zic”, povesteste Irinel.
Si s-a tinut de cuvant. Vizita care i-a “dezmortit” limba a fost cea a premierului Spaniei, Jose Luis Zapatero. “I-am spus asa, dintr-o suflare, ca eu imi doresc enorm sa ma viziteze Ronaldo la spital. A zambit, mi-a promis ca se rezolva, iar cei din conducerea spitalului care il insoteau si-au notat ceva pe niste hartii. Eram in al noualea cer. In fiecare zi ma intrebam daca asta va fi ziua cea mare. Si, intr-o dimineata, cei de la spital mi-au spus ŤHei, Irinel, pregateste-te, vine Ronaldo intr-o oraÅ¥. Si chiar a venit, si nu singur, ci insotit si de presedintele clubului”, isi aminteste infocatul fan.
Ronaldo n-a venit la simpaticul craiovean cu mana goala. I-a adus un tricou cu autograful lui, postere, fotografii, insigne si o multime de alte obiecte promotionale cu numele lui si ale clubului. “Culmea, cand a intrat la mine in salon, eu chiar vorbeam la telefon cu un prieten roman de-aici, din Spania. Ma laudam ca o sa vina Ronaldo si el imi tot zicea sa termin cu prostiile, ca nu ma crede. Cand i-am zis Ťhai ca nu mai pot sa vorbesc, ca tocmai a intrat pe usaÅ¥, abia atunci a inceput sa ma creada. Am fost super emotionat. Ronaldo mi-a strans mana, m-a imbratisat si mi-a zis sa ma fac cat mai repede bine, ca sa pot veni la un antrenament de-al lor sau la meciuri. Abia astept”, spune Irinel.
Intalnirea dintre el si celebrul fotbalist l-a transformat intr-o vedeta, povestea lui fiind relatata pe larg in ziarele spaniole la vremea respectiva.
N-a putut inca sa faca acest lucru, pentru ca o buna bucata de vreme a avut probleme mari cu sanatatea, mai ales cu piciorul drept, la care a suferit mai multe operatii.
“Cinci luni am umblat in carje. Mi-a fost tot timpul teama ca n-o sa mai pot umbla pe picioarele mele. M-am si ingrasat mult – aveam 70 de kilograme, acum am 83 – si nu ma simt bine asa. Si inca nici acum nu mi-au trecut de tot durerile, dar ce sa fac, m-am reapucat de munca”, povesteste tanarul.
N-ar fi crezut niciodata ca-si va implini visul de a se intalni cu idolul sau. Asa cum nu si-ar fi putut imagina ca va trai pe propria piele una din cele mai mari tragedii prin care a trecut Europa: atentatele din Madrid, de la 11 martie 2004.
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