Iñaki Urdangarin has reached his limit and has confessed the greatest thing about his son Pablo. After a long time in silence, he has decided to speak out about a subject that deeply hurts him. He believes that Pablo Urdangarin is being intentionally harmed and hasn't hesitated to point directly at King Felipe VI.
According to his inner circle, Iñaki doesn't understand why his son hasn't been drafted to the Spanish handball team. He considers that his performance is far above that of other players. He believes that there's something more behind his exclusion.
For him, that absence isn't the result of a sporting decision. He's convinced that there's a hidden hand holding back Pablo's career. He claims that this hand is none other than that of the head of state himself.
The relationship between Iñaki and King Felipe was never close and the facts speak for themselves. However, now it's become even more strained because of this matter. Urdangarin believes that the king is using his power to put obstacles in his son's way.
Pablo Urdangarin's career, despite Felipe VI
Pablo Urdangarin, at just 24 years old, has earned the respect of the handball world. He plays for Granollers and has become one of Europe's great prospects. Clubs from Germany, France, and Denmark have already shown interest in him.
Despite all that, he hasn't been drafted by the Spanish team. His father doesn't understand how he can still be left out of the national team. He believes that there's no logical explanation from a sporting point of view.
Iñaki suspects that the problem has to do with his last name. Pablo wears number 77 in honor of his father and keeps "Urdangarin" on his jersey. For the former duke, that tribute is seen as a provocation by the king.
Felipe VI, according to these sources, doesn't want that last name to regain public prominence. Pablo's image on a national team would once again draw attention to the Nóos case scandal. The monarch would prefer that his nephew not have visibility representing Spain.
For Iñaki, that's unfair and he wants everyone to know it. He believes that his son isn't to blame for the past. He argues that Pablo has worked hard and has shown his worth on the court.
Iñaki Urdangarin can't stay silent any longer
For years, Urdangarin has avoided speaking publicly about these issues. This time he feels that he can't remain silent any longer. He sees how his son fights to achieve his dream and doors are closed to him for no reason.
Father and son keep a very special relationship. They share a passion for handball and train together whenever they can. Pablo considers his father his greatest role model in the sport.
That's why he has wanted to follow in his footsteps. His goal is to go as far as possible, just as Iñaki did in his day. His exclusion from the national team isn't just a sporting disappointment, it's also an emotional blow.
Iñaki fears that the institutional blockade will end up breaking his son's spirit. He believes that if this exclusion continues, Pablo could lose important opportunities. He considers that he can't stand by and watch this situation repeat itself.
This conflict has caused a new rift between Iñaki and the king's family. Although they no longer kept regular contact, now the tension is even greater. He feels that his son is paying a price that doesn't belong to him.
King Felipe hasn't stood idly by
In reality, Pablo doesn't seek media attention, but King Felipe isn't making things easy for him. He just wants to keep growing in his sport and fulfill his job. His last name continues to generate rejection in certain institutional circles.
The latest national team draft has been the trigger. Iñaki doesn't understand how players with lower performance have been chosen. He considers that it's clear there's a silent veto.
No one in the federation has given a clear explanation. They only talk about technical decisions. For Iñaki, it's impossible not to see the political weight behind it.
The conflict is already on the table and doesn't seem to have a short-term solution. Although Iñaki hasn't made a direct public accusation, his position is clear. He believes that Felipe VI is intervening to prevent his son from advancing.
In the middle, a father who's said enough. Who's willing to defend his son above all else. Even if that means facing, indirectly, the king of Spain himself.