Osasuna and Iranian national team legend Javad Nekounam joined Radio Osasuna's "Relatos de El Sadar" (Tales of El Sadar) to discuss his time at the club, recall his most iconic moments in red and address the fans.

"Since I started playing soccer, my dream was to play in Spain," Nekounam said. "During the 2006 World Cup, [then-Osasuna head coach] Cuco Ziganda was scouting players and liked me. When the time came to go to Spain, I was thrilled and excited."

Nekounam's arrival at Osasuna made him the first Iranian player to play in LaLiga. He made his debut for the Rojillos in a Champions League qualifier against Hamburger SV, and his first LaLiga match was on Sept. 9, 2006, against FC Barcelona at the iconic Nou Camp.

"Iranian players have tended to play in Germany, England, and Italy, but not so much in Spain. However, since my arrival and Masoud's, more players and fans have become attracted to the league," Nekounam said. "I remember after our last game in the 2006 World Cup, we returned to Iran and visited my family for vacation. Maybe 24 hours later, my agent called and told me I had to go to Spain. Within two hours, I was home, packed, and on my way. I was very excited."

Being the first Iranian player in Spain was prestigious but came with challenges, such as adapting to a new culture. However, with the right people around him, the transition became easier. The 44-year-old fondly recalled how the club and the city of Pamplona welcomed him.

"The players, fans—everyone—made me feel welcome. I want to thank fans, players, coaches, and friends for the reception they gave to someone who didn't know the language or much about Spanish soccer," he said. "I thought it would take me a long time to adapt, but thanks to my teammates and the fans, after a week or 10 days, I felt comfortable and that I belonged."

Nekounam's performances cemented his place in Osasuna's history, but there is one game that everyone in Navarre remembers. During his first season as a Rojillo, the team achieved its best international performance by reaching the UEFA Cup semifinals. That achievement wouldn't have been possible without Nekounam, who scored a decisive goal against Bordeaux in the round of 16.

"In Iran, the most important goal of my career was against Real Madrid, but the most important one of my Osasuna career was against Bordeaux," he recalled. "After the match, when I scored in the 120th minute, I called a friend—not realizing how important the goal was. The next day, after reading the newspapers and talking with my teammates, I understood the significance of the goal for Osasuna's history."

If Osasuna is known for anything worldwide, it is its stadium, El Sadar. The Rojillo fortress holds the record for the loudest noise in LaLiga history, reaching 115.9 decibels after Juanfran Torres scored a division-saving goal against Real Madrid on the final matchday of the 2008-09 season.

"In my opinion, [El Sadar] is the best stadium outside my country. I have seen many stadiums during World Cups, but without a doubt, El Sadar is the best," Nekounam said.

As the interview ended, Nekounam had a message for the fans, expressing his love for the club and his hope to watch a game alongside them at El Sadar.

"I want to send a hug to everyone. Best of luck to Osasuna. I will forever be a Rojillo until death, like them. Hopefully, I can be there to watch a game with the fans. I always watch Osasuna on TV. Aupa Osasuna!" Nekounam concluded.

Listen to the full interview HERE