From Bilbao to Vallecas, Athletic fan keeps Balliu shirt vow | OneFootball

An Athletic supporter honoured a personal vow linked to Balliu, travelling from Bilbao to Vallecas after shedding weight so a gifted shirt would finally fit. According to El Correo, television cameras captured his pursuit of the Rayo defender in the stands last Saturday.

He arrived with an Athletic scarf and hoodie, but a Rayo warm-up top hidden underneath. He scoured the pitch using his hands as makeshift binoculars, even asking a kitman, then waited for the stadium announcement and celebrated when Balliu was listed among the substitutes, chanting his name.

As soon as the Albanian full-back emerged from the tunnel towards the bench, the fan sprang up, removed his hoodie to reveal the Rayo shirt, approached the touchline and greeted him with enthusiasm, saying he had come solely for him.

Balliu recognised him and told a team-mate the admirer now looked transformed, signalling how much heavier he used to be. The backstory goes to Rayo’s August 2025 visit to San Mamés, when the fan received a size M shirt from Balliu despite weighing 104 kg and vowed it would fit next time.

He kept to his diet and returned to relive the moment, proudly showing phone images of his progress. He left with another keepsake from Balliu, this time the classic home shirt.

Source: El Correo