Real Betis Pays Tribute to Bruno Escandell on his Last Day as the Foundation’s Star Signing

Real Betis Pays Tribute to Bruno Escandell on his Last Day as the Foundation’s Star Signing

The Real Betis Balompié Foundation has paid tribute at the Benito Villamarín Stadium to little Bruno on his last day as the protagonist of the ‘Fichaje Estrella’ project. One that seeks to give a message of hope to children who are going through a serious illness process.

The Real Betis Balompié Foundation paid tribute this Thursday at the Benito Villamarín Stadium to Bruno Escandell on his last day as the protagonist of the ‘Fichaje Estrella’, a project that the green and white entity premiered in September 2021 with Alba Fernández and whose main objective is to give a message of hope to children who are going through a serious illness process.

When Bruno Escandell was only a few days old, the little boy had to be admitted to the ICU of the Hospital Universitario Virgen del Rocío diagnosed with bilateral renal dysplasia. Despite the fact that his kidneys were not working and that when he was admitted he had a blood infection incompatible with life, Bruno always fought with a smile on his face until, at the age of one year and eleven months, he underwent a kidney transplant. This kidney transplant was possible thanks to the donation of his mother, Beatriz Martinez.

His optimistic character and strength to fight this disease, Bruno Escandell, from Seville, has become the star signing of the Fundación Verdiblanca for the 2022-23 season. A real superhero who, since he took the position, assured that he came “to give hope” and has done so among all the sick children.

Just like a first team player, his farewell was in style. A press conference and posing on the pitch in front of numerous media was held for Bruno. Rafael Gordillo, president of the Foundation, presented him with a t-shirt at the Ciudad Deportiva with the name Fichaje Estrella, and the season in which Bruno has been the protagonist. Present at the ceremony were his family members, the Foundation’s trustees, the first Fichaje Estrella, Alba Fernández, and Club employees.

Bruno’s charisma and joy won over the hearts of the players of Real Betis, Real Betis Futsal and Real Betis Féminas. During the season, he has accompanied the players as Club ambassador in actions such as the traditional Christmas visit to hospitals. Bruno also went to visit the children who attend the Centro de Estimulación Precoz Cristo del Buen Fin and has carried out other actions related to children’s health.

A moment that will also always be remembered was when Bruno jumped onto the Villamarín pitch in front of 50,000 people who chanted his name, during the preview of the Real Betis – FC Barcelona. The image of the little boy going out onto the field as a real superhero has starred during all these months, the curtain that gives way to advertising on Movistar + soccer channels. Since that day, Bruno has had a locker in the first team locker room along with the rest of the players.

Last season, the project wanted to focus on giving visibility to children going through an oncological process. On this occasion, the Fichaje Estrella has focused on children who are going to undergo an organ transplant. The Foundation wanted to show that thanks to the strength and optimism brought to the patients during the disease process, together with the great work of the health professionals, it is possible to overcome it and have a completely normal life.

Bruno, like Alba, will continue to participate in the Foundation’s activities and will accompany the new star signing.