In the summer of 1992, at just seventeen years old, Francesc Estañol's home in Cervià de Ter became a hub for representatives from major football clubs. Teams like Zaragoza and FC Barcelona showed significant interest in signing the young goalkeeper, who excelled with Vilobí's youth team and the Catalan U-17 selection. The pressure was so intense that Estañol himself considered quitting football.
“"There were no mobile phones, and my house seemed like a telephone exchange. They kept calling and offering me things. I didn't have an agent, and it was overwhelming for us at home. I was swamped."
Initially, Estañol opted for Zaragoza, with the promise of playing for their reserve team, Aragón, and training with the first team. However, shortly after, FC Barcelona, through Oriol Tort, intervened to bring him to La Masia. After negotiations with Vilobí, the transfer was finalized in exchange for a small sum and a friendly match for the Barça reserve team.
During his two years at Barça, Estañol shared a room at La Masia with figures like Iván de la Peña, Francesc Arnau, and Óscar Arpón. Later, he played for Barça C in Tercera División and even had the opportunity to train with the first team under Johan Cruyff. He humorously recalls his first encounter with the legendary coach, where he understood nothing of what was being said.
After his time at Barça, where he lost an U-19 Copa del Rey final against Real Madrid, Estañol rejected a loan to Almería and returned home to help with the family business. He continued his career at Palafrugell for four seasons, and later signed for Figueres in Segunda B, where he coincided with Esteve Moner and had few playing opportunities. He retired from football at Sant Jordi Desvalls.
