While a lot of Premier League players stayed in England for the quarantine, AFC Bournemouth’s Diego Rico did not, deciding to head back to Spain instead.
The choice was made due to the fact most of his family still live in his home country, and he felt it was the best way to be able to lend a hand and ‘add his two cents’ to the Covid-19 pandemic.
Diario de Burgos in Spain explain that his first port of call was to try and donate some medical equipment, but ‘despite his best efforts, it was impossible’.
Instead, he came up with the solution of making a financial donation to the two care homes where his grandmother and aunt currently reside.
He said: “After a lot of thought, I understood that it could be a good option. The elderly are those most at risk during this pandemic, the most fragile and that’s why I chose this route.
“I have a grandmother and an aunt in care homes and I think it’s the best way of helping. This donation will go directly to people from my town and two of my family members.”
As for the situation as a whole, Diario De Burgos say the Bournemouth player feels this is the moment for everyone to ‘take a step forward’.
He added: “It’s complicated and I think we need to collaborate however we can so that this passes as quickly as possible and so that we can return to normality.”
For now, however, he will have to stay in Spain before returning to the Vitality Stadium, and a lot will depend on whether or not the Premier League resumes at a later date.
If it doesn’t, and it’s declared null and void, then Bournemouth might not need him back for a while yet.
