Andalusian octogenarian Antonio Megías set for first San Mamés visit to see Athletic | OneFootball

Antonio Megías has arrived in Bilbao to fulfil his dream of watching Athletic at San Mamés for the first time, with Real Betis the visitors this afternoon. The Andalusian octogenarian, made famous online by granddaughter Andrea, is travelling with his wife and Andrea.

“We met in Granada, at the match that was called off when a supporter lost his life in the ground. I caught his eye wearing an Athletic shirt and that was that,” she told Ideal de Granada. Ibai, Andrea’s boyfriend and a devoted Athletic fan, greeted them on arrival.

The family flew from Granada, and Andrea filmed her grandparents, both in Athletic scarves, stepping into the city and shared it on social media. They spent the morning sightseeing and even tried the metro, a first underground ride for María.

Megías says he speaks no Basque but has backed Athletic since childhood, when they were the big team winning the league and especially the cup. He still reels off old line-ups, citing Iribar, Iriondo and Venancio, and played 10 years for Arenas de Armilla, where team-mates called him Gaínza.

Before kick-off an Athletic supporter gifted them a painting of the grandfather and granddaughter in red and white beside the ‘Soñar’ mural, with the gabarra on the estuary. The artwork also includes the signatures of Athletic players.

The main event comes at 18.30, when the ball starts rolling at San Mamés. The trip began with Andrea’s online plea to help her grandfather reach Bilbao to see Athletic there, prompting offers of beds and tickets. Oihan Sancet also sent Antonio a message.

Source: El Correo