Following the recent and somewhat unsuccessful interview of King Juan Carlos on French television—which failed to generate much public interest—it is now his former son-in-law’s turn to step in front of the cameras. Iñaki Urdangarin is set to make his first television appearance since being convicted in the Nóos case, which resulted in a prison sentence of five years and ten months. For his debut, he has chosen a friendly setting: the conversation will take place in Catalan with his close friend Jordi Basté on the program ‘Pla Seqüència’ broadcast on La 2Cat. The interview is scheduled to air on December 11.
The aim of the program is to reveal the real Urdangarin, capturing spontaneous and natural moments from his everyday life so viewers can see the man behind the headlines. People close to him will also appear on the show, although their names remain undisclosed for now. However, one name stands out and will undoubtedly become a central topic of conversation—Ainhoa Armentia.
It is with her, his new partner, with whom he began a relationship in 2022, that Iñaki Urdangarin is building a new life in Vitoria. His mother, Claire Liebaert, also lives in the same city. After his legal troubles and highly publicized divorce from Infanta Cristina, he is now focused on his personal and professional future. The couple lives together in a rented apartment, their relationship has fully stabilized, and the former athlete is ready to speak openly about it.
Their romance began at a law firm in Vitoria, where they both worked. The relationship became public after photos surfaced of them walking together on Bidart beach, which came as a complete surprise to those around the couple. Especially memorable was the reserved reaction of his son Pablo, who at the time stated, “This is a family matter, these things happen, and we will discuss it among ourselves.” Three years after that shocking revelation, and with divorce papers signed, it seems there’s a period of calm in Urdangarin’s life. And he intends to set the record straight.
Sources from the production team confirmed that during his conversation with Jordi Basté, Iñaki felt the need to “give Ainhoa the place she deserves.” He wants to highlight that she is a woman who “loved him without asking for anything in return.” The interview will also touch on the topic of his children, especially his son Pablo, who has successfully followed in his father’s footsteps in handball. “A father’s pride is incredible,” a source shares. Recently, Pablo himself spoke warmly about his father in an interview before his debut with the Spanish national team, saying, “Before every game, I call him, and it really helps me to talk about how I’m feeling. It calms me down.”
This new phase of openness for Iñaki Urdangarin, who for a long time maintained a strict silence, began last June with a surprise interview for La Vanguardia. In it, he described his new life with Ainhoa Armentia as “very routine and orderly.” Early mornings, sports, and reconnecting with childhood friends—these are the everyday realities of a man who, in his own words, feels “as if time has slipped away, and I want to make the most of it.”
In the same interview, he also spoke about his new professional project—a coaching brand called Bevolutive, the idea for which came to him during his time in Brieva prison. “Inside, I started learning so that once I got out I could help others set goals, find motivation, or improve their skills, because I believe my unique experience, combined with the knowledge I’ve gained, can be useful,” he emphasized. But beyond his role as a coach, we will soon see Urdangarin as an author. Rumor has it he has already signed a contract to publish his memoirs, which are expected to come out next year. In the book, he promises to talk about his years in the royal family, addressing the Nóos case, and to share his disappointment with the honorary king. The memoir is expected to feature explosive revelations such as, “He sacrificed me, he let me fall.” It will be a cold act of revenge, especially after Juan Carlos devoted some less-than-flattering passages to him in his own autobiography.
RUSSPAIN Reference. Iñaki Urdangarin y Liebaert is a former Spanish handball player, Olympic and European Championship medalist. He gained widespread public attention after marrying Infanta Cristina, the youngest daughter of King Juan Carlos I of Spain, in 1997, and was granted the title Duke of Palma de Mallorca. In 2011, he became the central figure in a corruption scandal known as the Nóos case, involving the embezzlement of public funds. In 2018, he was sentenced to five years and ten months in prison. In 2022, after his release, reports emerged about his relationship with Ainhoa Armentia, which led to his divorce from Infanta Cristina in 2024.
