Two months after the Copa final in Sevilla, stories continue to emerge. One such story belongs to Fernando Oyarbide, a fan from Usurbil, who, in the midst of the txuri-urdin triumph, descended onto the pitch to give captain Mikel Oyarzabal the jersey bearing the name of Aitor Zabaleta, creating one of the most iconic celebration photos at La Cartuja.
Oyarbide explains that he could not retrieve the jersey after the event. He wore Aitor Zabaleta's jersey before the match and later changed into Imanol Agirretxe's centenary jersey. After the game, he told a friend: "I'm going to give the jersey to Mikel Oyarzabal." He descended from the last row to the pitch.
Getting the jersey to the captain was not straightforward. Oyarbide handed it to a young man in an orange vest, whom he believes was a kit man, to give to the Real Sociedad captain. "The last time I saw it, Marrero had it; he lifted the trophy and it fell. He put it inside the Copa," he recalls.
In the moment of euphoria, he thought he would recover it later. Now, however, he feels "a bit fed up" because the young people in his town tease him, asking if he has found the jersey.
The jersey holds significant sentimental value for Oyarbide, as Aitor Zabaleta worked at a friend's bar and he has a relationship with his brothers. "We know each other well," he states.
He has been trying to locate it since the day after the final. He has spoken with Imanol Agirretxe, who has inquired with players and kit men, but no one knows anything. He even went to Zubieta on the last training day, but Mikel, Zubeldia, Barrenetxea, and Soler had no information either.
As a last resort, he is considering speaking with Jokin Aperribay. "I don't know if he can do anything," he comments. He has also checked with the lost and found department at La Cartuja, but found nothing. "I always remember Aitor. Every goal Real Sociedad scores reminds me of him," he confesses.
“"That jersey might have been kept by a relative, or it stayed on the field and someone picked it up. I really have no idea."
Oyarbide wishes to recover the jersey to keep it at his home for a month and take photos with the people of his town. "Then we'll see. If it stays at Real's Museum or goes to Aitor's brothers. I think the jersey is important. We remember what we suffered, what we lived through, and what we went through. It's something special," he emphasizes.
His final wish is for the jersey to appear so that "people can take photos with it and with the Copa." "I can't think of a better tribute to Aitor," he concludes.
