Diego San Román, a new hope for Mexican bullfighting: "When you have God in your life, you also reflect him in the ring."

Few countries celebrate the Fiesta more than Mexico. The Aztec country is experiencing difficult times, as prohibitionist politicians seek a "bloodless fight," which would lead to bullfighting's extinction. However, more and more bullfighters are emerging, coming to Spain and triumphing, serving as a catalyst for their fellow countrymen across the pond. Isaac Fonseca cut off an important ear eleven days ago. Now Diego San Román arrives to confirm his alternative, and he will try to break the streak of bad luck Mexicans have been experiencing at the Monumental: since Eloy Cavazos came out on shoulders in 1972, no compatriot has achieved this feat.

The pandemic halted several careers, including the Querétaro native's: "It was something that affected us all..." Although he pauses to reflect, and finds something positive in those difficult moments that we're still feeling the consequences of: "Sometimes we don't know. I think maybe it helped me delve deeper into myself, above all, because in the end , when you're well as a person, when you're whole, when you have God in your life, you also reflect that in the ring ."

There was a great atmosphere, with important afternoons in Valencia, Madrid, and Pamplona , ​​among other places. But the virus cut short that momentum, and it will be a bit of a start from scratch in Spain: " Time passes, these things are forgotten, and we have to reaffirm those triumphs . I'm coming back very excited to regain that atmosphere I had as a novillero, but now as a matador. And with more maturity, I suppose."

It seems that this confinement has brought out the best in the Mexican's personal side, and has helped him gain greater common sense: "Absolutely. As I said, this time since the pandemic has helped me a lot to internalize, it has helped me a lot to get closer to God, to have a very strong, very important point of faith , and that is what has also helped me improve my bullfighting, to improve my way of interpreting life, my way of interpreting each pass. God has enlightened me in many aspects and I am reflecting that in my bullfighting ."

Now he comes to the Monumental "with excitement," but above all with "great responsibility, because we know it's the most important bullring in the world, the one that gives and takes ." Bullfighting in Madrid is never easy, "but even less so in San Isidro," he notes. " It's where you want to be known, what you prepare for as a bullfighter and as a person, to be as rounded as possible and be able to show what you want to express." It's also an interesting lineup for fans. "I also see it as a very accomplished bullfighter."

Curro Díaz will be the godfather . The Linares native, a notable absence from the Isidril cycle in recent years, is very much to the liking of the Ventas fans. "They love him a lot, and for me he's a role model as a bullfighter, because he has a lot of class and is a master ." Román will be the witness, after giving a great performance at the last bullfight in Pedraza: "Also a great bullfighter, who leaves his soul in every pass he gives every afternoon ."

Although the first bullfight at Fuente Ymbro didn't charge as expected, Ricardo Gallardo will have a chance to redeem himself in Madrid. Furthermore, Diego already knows the ranch, having killed it as a novillero in this arena. He's only been in Mexico for several seasons, and the bull from there has little to do with the ones from Cádiz: "It's completely different, because you have to fight a Mexican bull very slowly, you have to push it a lot, and do things with great tact . This bull is almost the opposite, because it pushes too much, it's very mobile, and you have to be very lively with it ." Although San Román is already adapting to that mobility, since "I've had the opportunity to train a lot on ranches in Spain and get to know the charges well there. I'm adapting to that type of charge with so much coal, and I'm getting the hang of it ."

How do you see the situation in your country from here? "It's complicated, but we're confident that the government won't be influenced by economic interests and will let the law prevail. We're going to file injunctions and make a lot of noise so that the law doesn't pass and become official . I have a lot of faith in the work we bullfighters are doing here; the Mexican Bullfighting Foundation we have here is doing important work. We have to trust, have faith that it will be resolved, and it's just a bad patch ." God willing, it will be so and that bullfighters continue to emerge who bring joy to their fellow charros.