Eric Montes, a 27-year-old Spanish footballer who came through Barcelona's youth academy, announced his retirement from professional football due to mental health problems. The decision, revealed in a press conference, was driven by a knee injury that marked a turning point in his life. Montes emphasized his desire to prioritize his emotional well-being and start a new chapter.
Eric Montes, who captained Barcelona's youth teams and currently plays for Algeciras in Spain's Primera RFEF, shocked Spanish football by announcing his retirement at age 27. On Saturday, in an emotional press conference, he explained that the decision stems from years of reflection on his mental health, worsened by the sport's pressures.
“It might sound a bit weird and tough, but I don't care: I want to leave professional football. I've been thinking about this for many years,” Montes said. He recounted that a previous knee injury was pivotal: “When I tore my knee, something clicked in my head. Physically, it was the worst moments, but mentally the best because I didn't have to put on a mask to train.”
Montes, who started his career in La Masia at age four, moved through Girona, Peralada, Cultural Leonesa, Albacete Balompié, and Nàstic before joining Algeciras. Despite his commitment, he admitted to internal suffering: “Every day going to the gym to not be at home.” Now, he plans to return to his hometown to “grab the bull by the horns and live my life.”
“Since that click, I'm very happy because I'm going to start my life from zero. I don't want to suffer anymore,” he stated. His retirement highlights the growing importance of mental health in sports, a topic gaining visibility in Spanish football.
