‘Born with a special gift’ – Former Barcelona goalkeeper full of praise for talismanic forward

Barcelona’s goalkeeping situation is a queer one, for the Catalans have three starting-quality goalkeepers in their ranks after the signing of Joan Garcia.

With Marc-Andre Ter Stegen injured and Garcia also facing a setback in recent weeks, the depth of the department has been tested, and Wojciech Szczesny has stepped up. However, a serious competition for a starting spot will begin soon.

In his recent interview with AS, former Barcelona goalkeeper Vitor Baia opened up on the current Barcelona team and how he saw their successes last season.

Baia speaks on the current team

The Portuguese goalkeeper who played for the club between 1996 and 2000 only represented two clubs in his professional career – Porto and Barcelona. He began his interview by revealing his thoughts on Barcelona’s recent successes.

“Last year they won La Liga. I was very happy for Deco and Laporta that they could, given the problems of financial Fair Play, win the League under these conditions,” he began.

“They are people with a great ability to manage and make the difficult easy. They have done it and right now they have a young team with a lot of quality to win again,” he added, praising the administration.

He was then asked about the goalkeeping situation at the club, given how Marc-Andre Ter Stegen, Wojciech Szczesny, and Joan Garcia are all at the club and must compete with each other.

“Look, last year they had two goalkeepers. Ter Stegen, who is a great goalkeeper and who due to injury has started playing Szczesny and has done very well. I understand the coach’s option at that moment,” he began.

“And then they have hired a very talented young man (Joan García) who comes from a different reality, who is adapting. Sadly now he has had an injury, but I see him with a lot of capacity,” he added on the new signing.

Elaborating on Garcia and how he hoped the youngster could reach the levels expected of him, Baia said,

“I hope he is very lucky and that he can develop all his qualities and adapt to the pressure of playing in Barcelona.”

“And I go back again to Szczęsny, who last year was almost retired, on the beach and now he plays again and only a great professional like Szczęsny can do it this way,” he added on Szczesny.

On Lamine Yamal

The former player also spoke in depth about Lamine Yamal and what he made of the teenager’s prodigal talent and record-breaking career so far.

“Lamine is a player who was born with a special gift, and now we have to enhance that gift.”

“And he can have Cristiano as an example of how to also manage his life off the field and thus be able to get to where Messi arrived and where Cristiano arrived too,” he added, comparing his future with the greats.

On how Lionel Messi can also be a reference point for the youngster, he said,

“Messi is also a good example for Lamine. He is a family man, he is a balanced man, hardworking.”

The former player was then asked if he thought Yamal was the best football player on the planet as it stands, to which he replied in the positive.

“Right now, for me, he has everything to be the best in the world. Everything. Now is the time to wait for a great competition, win it and there you can be considered the best in the world.”

“Dembele won all last year, that’s why he has been the best with all justice. And now Lamine has the opportunity to win everything for Barça. When you win everything collectively you are closer to winning individually,” he added.

Giving the youngster advice on how he must be careful not to get carried away, the ex-goalkeeper said,

“That’s why Lamine has everything to be the best, but he has to be careful. His family, his environment, his friends, the people who manage his career.”

“He must be very careful so that he keeps his feet well on the ground and that he is a balanced boy,” he added.

On his time at the club

The former player then remembered his days at the club and spoke explicitly about how it was one of the best moments in his career.

“For me, Barça is forever in my heart. It was an incredible moment in my life. The day I left was one of the saddest days for me, because I loved Barcelona, I loved the club, I loved the people.”

“I continue to have an excellent relationship with everyone. And whenever I can I’m going to see them,” he added.

Reflecting on his former teammates and how he was lucky to play alongside some of the greats of the game, the goalkeeper said,

“Ronaldo [Nazario] has been the best player I’ve played with. He was a beast. Incredible. Fast, strong, physically tremendous, and technically above average. He did incredible things in a year in Barcelona.”

He then stated how moving to the Serie A was a bad decision for the legendary striker and how he should have stayed in Catalonia.

“And it has been a shame, because if he had perhaps stayed in Barcelona, he would not have had the injury problems he had later. Because we know what football is like in Italy. It’s very physical, it’s very gym, it’s very strong.”

“Maybe it was detrimental to him. And it was a shame not to stay there because I was a king in Barcelona,” he concluded.