Yeremy Pino interview: Lessons from Silva and Cazorla, Mateta’s Spanish… and London’s ‘s***’ traffic

Yeremy Pino, the 22-year-old summer signing from Villarreal, has been adapting to life at Crystal Palace and in London over the past six weeks. In an exclusive interview, he expressed that while he misses his former home, Villarreal, he is motivated by his new adventure and has already settled in with a house and car, though he criticized London's traffic as significantly worse than in Villarreal.

Pino has made a promising start on the pitch since his €25 million move in August, featuring in seven matches across all competitions and providing two assists in the Europa Conference League opener against Dynamo Kyiv. He took over the No. 10 shirt from Eberechi Eze, who moved to Arsenal, and is stepping into a role following Eze's impactful contributions, including a FA Cup final-winning goal.

Crystal Palace is experiencing an exciting period, having won their first major trophy in history and the Community Shield against Liverpool, with a recent 2-1 victory over the same opponents helping them reach sixth place in the table. The team was on a 19-game unbeaten run before a loss to Everton prior to the international break.

Pino is receiving support from Spanish-speaking teammates like Daniel Munoz and Jefferson Lerma, as well as French striker Jean-Philippe Mateta, who attempts to speak Spanish with him. The club has also assisted with finding accommodation, aiding his smooth integration into the squad.

Additionally, Pino has connected with Spain international teammates based in London, including players from Chelsea, Tottenham, and Arsenal, often dining together. However, he has yet to find a favorite Spanish restaurant as he focuses on settling in before exploring the city further.

Born in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Pino joined Villarreal's academy at age 14 and went on to make 170 appearances for the first team, scoring 22 goals and providing 25 assists. During his time there, Villarreal won the Europa League in 2021 and reached the Champions League semi-finals under Unai Emery.

Pino acknowledges the Premier League's faster and more physical nature compared to La Liga, recognizing the challenge for his 5ft 8in frame. He draws inspiration from successful Spanish playmakers in England, such as Santi Cazorla and David Silva, and believes that technical quality can help him adapt to the pace of the game, which he is enjoying despite its intensity.