TOKYO: Former Barcelona prodigy Bojan Krkic is enjoying in his seventh nation and “wouldn’t change something” a few profession that began with him labelled the following Lionel Messi and now sees him in Japan.
Many younger forwards have been overrated as the brand new Messi, however Bojan — who even had the identical floppy hair because the Argentine — genuinely regarded destined for the very high.
At 17 years and 19 days, the Spaniard in 2007 turned the youngest participant to symbolize Barcelona in La Liga, taking the document beforehand held by Messi. Bojan went on to attain 41 objectives in 163 video games for the membership.
Quick ahead and Bojan, now 31, has been reunited with former Barca team-mate Andres Iniesta in Japan after becoming a member of Vissel Kobe final summer time following stints of various success in Italy, Holland, England, Germany and Canada.
“All of the conditions, all of the experiences that you’ve got — not solely in soccer however in life — all the things might be higher and all the things might be worse,” he advised AFP of his wandering path since leaving the Camp Nou in 2011.
“I’m enjoying my fifteenth 12 months as knowledgeable footballer at a excessive stage within the massive leagues, massive golf equipment. I’m actually happy with all the things that I did.”
Bojan mentioned he was “dwelling a dream” after breaking into Barcelona’s first workforce as a youngster and enjoying alongside membership legends equivalent to Ronaldinho, Xavi and, after all, Messi.
He gained two Champions League and three Spanish league titles with the membership he joined as a nine-year-old, however his time there got here to an finish when he was bought to Italian facet Roma.
He mentioned he “didn’t realise that there was a world behind the Barcelona door” till he left Camp Nou, however he’s glad that he broadened his horizons.
“I realised that there are numerous golf equipment, many international locations, many locations to dwell and study. Due to soccer, I had this chance,” he mentioned.
“In each place that I’ve been, I study, I get pleasure from, I undergo. I develop as an individual and as a footballer, and I’m actually happy with that.”
Premier League success
Bojan did not make an impression throughout stints with Roma, AC Milan and Ajax, however he says he performed “most likely one of the best” soccer of his profession throughout three and a half seasons in England with Stoke Metropolis. He’s nonetheless fondly remembered there.
He helped the Potters end within the high half of the Premier League each season from 2013 to 2016 below supervisor Mark Hughes and says the membership will “all the time be in my coronary heart”.
“The Premier League is for me one of the best league on this planet, it’s the place you get pleasure from actual soccer, correct soccer,” he mentioned.
“In all of the stadiums the place you play, you’ll be able to odor the historical past, you’ll be able to odor the respect for the game and for the gamers.”
Now Bojan is in Japan enjoying alongside Iniesta, who continues to be going sturdy regardless of turning 38 earlier this month.
Bojan says that the World Cup-winning Spain legend has not given him any indication of when he’ll retire and that the pair “solely communicate concerning the second”.
Xavi, a former Barcelona team-mate of each gamers, returned to the Camp Nou final 12 months to take over as supervisor.
Bojan believes Iniesta can “do no matter he needs” when he lastly hangs up his boots.
“He could be a coach if he needs, he could be a sports activities director, he might be concerned in enterprise,” mentioned Bojan.
“I feel he might help loads with the non-public facet of the gamers — the values of the game which you could study from a participant like him.”
As for Bojan himself, he says he has no ideas of retiring simply but however he’s already planning to maneuver into soccer administration when he does.
He began a course in sports activities administration when the pandemic started and thinks he could be higher suited working as a basic supervisor than a coach on the touchlines.
“For me, I feel an important factor if you signal a participant is that you simply signal a human,” he mentioned.
“I like that facet, to know a participant, to construct a workforce that may win, but additionally to construct a workforce which you could assist gamers to develop.”