From Messi and Ronaldo to Adelaide Comets for ex-La Liga defender Jon Aurtenetxe

Jon Aurtenetxe could only hope for divine intervention as Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo bore down on him. Now Adelaide Comets’ Spanish recruit was preparing for his latest soccer challenge, in the National Premier Leagues SA.

Spanish recruit Jon Aurtenetxe outside Adelaide Comets’ new Ellis Park clubrooms. Picture: AAP Image/Dean Martin

• Blue Eagles, City to kick off NPL season
• From Messi, Ronaldo to Comets

Jon Aurtenetxe could only hope for divine intervention as Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo bore down on him.

The Spanish defender spent five seasons in La Liga taking on the soccer superstars at the Camp Nou and Santiago Bernabeu with Athletic Bilbao and Celta Vigo.

He said the humbling experience had prepared him for the latest challenge on his global football journey — a debut National Premier Leagues SA campaign with Adelaide Comets.

“They are unbelievable players, they do everything good,” said Aurtenetxe, who faced Argentine legend Messi and Portuguese great Ronaldo a combined 12 times without winning.

“When you are marking them, you only have to pray.

“Ronaldo is a very good striker, but Messi for me is on another level.

“Now I’m here in Australia, maybe I’m not going to play against Messi.

“But I think there are also good players here and I’m going to enjoy that.”

Aurtenetxe, 27, completed a medical after touching down in Adelaide this week to finalise his transfer to Comets from Spanish third-tier outfit and hometown side SD Amorebieta.

His impressive CV boasted 92 top flight games in his homeland, as well as appearances in Europa League and Copa del Rey finals.

The left back also won the UEFA under-19 championship alongside Chelsea’s Alvaro Morata and finished third at the under-17 World Cup with Real Madrid’s Isco.

But he said the opportunity to travel to new locations and sample a different way of life, while continuing his playing career, attracted him to SA.

“It’s another experience for me — a change of country and a change of culture,” said Aurtenetxe, who was born in the Basque Country and joined Bilbao aged nine.

“It’s a dream for me because I like this country and I like this city now.

Adelaide Comets' Spanish recruit Jon Aurtenetxe playing for Celta Vigo against Barcelona legend Lionel Messi in 2014.

“It will be good to improve my English and I want to change my lifestyle.

“I’ve played in very good teams against very good players and very good clubs.

“But I didn’t want to go to another place in Europe to play, so it is a very big opportunity for me coming here.”

Jon Aurtenetxe prepares for the National Premier Leagues SA season with Adelaide Comets. Picture: AAP Image/Dean Martin

Aurtenetxe had faced a who’s who of world-class talents.

Neymar (Brazil), Luis Suarez (Uruguay), Angel Di Maria (Argentina), Mesut Ozil (Germany), Karim Benzema (France) and countrymen Andreas Iniesta and Xavi were among the biggest.

He singled out eliminating a Manchester United side featuring Wayne Rooney, Ryan Giggs, David de Gea and Rio Ferdinand from the Europa League in 2012 as his highlight.

“Those games were the best for me.

“The best stadium is the Bernabeu, but at Old Trafford there were maybe 8000 Athletic Bilbao fans there.

“To win such a big game for them was unforgettable.”

The Basque international called ex-Athletic teammates Fernando Lloretne, Ander Herrera and Aymeric Laporte “very good players” but “normal people” and “like family”.

Aurtenetxe was primed to kick-off the NPL season with FFA Cup SA holder Comets against West Adelaide on Saturday, February 23.

“Of course it (the playing style) in Australia will be a little bit different,” said Aurtenetxe, who played in the Scottish Premier League for Dundee last campaign.

“But I had my first training session and I think the level is good.

“Winning the league is a good goal for us.”