Javier Fernandez received by HJK Helsinki

Capitalising on his presence for the 2017 ISU World Figure Skating Championships, double defending champion Javier Fernandez – a LaLiga-sponsored athlete – was welcomed as a guest of honour by HJK Helsinki, the most decorated club in Finnish football. In his capacity as a LaLiga representative, Fernandez's visit sought to build bridges between figure skating and football and to publicise LaLiga's efforts to support other sports.

Fernandez was received by the Finnish outfit's Brazil-born captain Rafinha and by the club's assistant manager, the Spanish coach Jose Luis Riveiro, who previously worked in the RC Celta youth set-up. Riveiro remarked that, "This is a real treat for us. As his compatriot, I'm proud to have him here and for us to boast a top athlete in a sport that this country, Finland, is such a major power in. The team are also thrilled, because Finnish footballers follow such sports and recognise Javier Fernandez as a great athlete, so they're delighted to have him here with us this morning."

The two-time world champion was presented with an HJK shirt and returned the compliment in kind, handing over a LaLiga polo top with his name on the back. "I want to thank HJK for welcoming us like this at this wonderful football ground. I'd also like to thank LaLiga, because only good things can come from figure skating and football joining forces," he enthused. After the exchange of gifts, Fernandez posed for a photo with the squad, before watching them train and talking to the Finnish press.

HJK Helsinki are the most successful club in Finland, having won the top-flight title 27 times in their 110-year history, and are currently gearing up for the start of the new Veikkausliiga campaign in a week's time. They have faced Spanish sides on several occasions, the most recent of which was in 2014, when they took on FC Barcelona in a friendly. That game was held at the Olympic Stadium, which is just steps from HJK's regular home, the Sonera Stadium, where the training session attended by the figure skater was staged.

Javier Fernandez is seeking to add to his already packed trophy cabinet in Helsinki. After capturing European gold for the fifth straight season, the Spaniard is now bidding to make it three Worlds crowns in as many years, having also triumphed on the global stage in 2015 and 2016. The 25-year-old will perform his short programme this Thursday, 30 March, before strutting his stuff in the free-skating portion of the competition on Saturday, 1 April. The importance of Helsinki 2017 is heightened by the fact that it can be considered a dress rehearsal for the PyeongChang 2018 Games, where Fernandez will be hoping to claim his first Olympic medal.

The visit to HJK Helsinki was Fernandez's first such event since being unveiled as a new member of LaLiga's sponsorship stable, alongside world badminton champion Carolina Marin, at a ceremony on 2 February. As part of this commitment, LaLiga was present with the Madrilenian during this year's European Championships in Ostrava, in the Czech Republic, and will be in his corner again during this week's upcoming World Championships in Helsinki.