When the legendary Brazilian striker Ronaldo says about somebody that he was “the perfect,” then it may possibly actually solely be a famous person everybody instantly has in thoughts. However that’s not the case right here.
If Mauricio Pochettino is to be believed, R9 didn’t say this about Messi, Ronaldinho, or one other icon of that caliber, however about Iván de la Peña, who’s now forgotten by many. As Pochettino, who was on the pitch for Espanyol throughout Messi’s Barça debut, as soon as revealed to journalists, the preliminary euphoria round de la Peña was even higher than it was round Messi, Xavi, or Iniesta.
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📸 GERRY PENNY
In the event you have a look at previous spotlight clips of the Spaniard, it shortly turns into clear why. The method, imaginative and prescient, and passing capacity that got here from it made the midfield jewel look actually out of this world. However after that lightning-fast begin with the Catalans, de la Peña’s time at Barça ended prior to anticipated.
One of many causes was a person very acquainted at Bayern specifically: Louis van Gaal. After his appointment at FC Barcelona, issues turned more and more tough for the younger midfielder. The clear tactical concepts and strict self-discipline required have been a thorn in de la Peña’s aspect — and simply three years later, he was bought to Lazio.
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4 tough years adopted, together with unsuccessful mortgage spells, for the once-adored Barcelona technician earlier than he lastly discovered happiness later in his profession. On the metropolis rival of his former membership, RCD Espanyol Barcelona, the Spaniard turned a membership legend and stayed there till his retirement in 2011.
Though that was 15 years in the past now, de la Peña is as soon as once more inflicting a stir within the Spanish metropolis today. He’s now a participant agent, and his shopper checklist is certainly spectacular. The 49-year-old, for instance, represents teen Pedro “Dro” Fernández, who left FC Barcelona initially of this 12 months at simply 18 years previous and moved to Paris Saint-Germain — a lot to Barça’s dismay.
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“I cherished Dro, so in fact I’m dissatisfied. However that’s soccer. We now have to respect this choice. I’m dissatisfied. He is aware of it, however I actually cherished that boy,” Flick instructed the media concerning the transfer. Whereas the profitable Catalan coach expressed his disappointment fairly diplomatically, Barça president Laporta blasted the departure of the younger attacking jewel.
📸 FRANCK FIFE – AFP or licensors
“What occurred with Dro was a betrayal,” Laporta fumed after the switch. He additionally couldn’t resist taking a correct swipe at de la Peña. “If this had occurred with Jorge Mendes (agent of Lamine Yamal and plenty of different prime stars), it might by no means have performed out the way in which it did with the bald man,” the Barça boss raged, referring to the previous midfield technician.
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Laporta defined that what particularly outraged him about de la Peña’s choice to ship his shopper from Barcelona to PSG was that he solely has such a outstanding function as a participant agent due to his previous with the Catalans. Because the “bald man” has not solely Dro Fernández but additionally Gavi and Eric Garcia on his shopper checklist, it could not be shocking if there are extra clashes between Laporta and de la Peña sooner or later.
Whether or not as an unpredictable magician on the pitch or a hard-nosed negotiator off it, Iván de la Peña stays a polarizing determine in Barcelona. For Joan Laporta, he might presently be public enemy primary, however for Ronaldo he stays merely what he has all the time been: the perfect.
This text was translated into English by Synthetic Intelligence.