FCBARCELONA.CAT

21.10.2009 21:14

“The Masia is one big family”

Edgar Fornós

Barça midfielder Andrés Iniesta has spoken on the programme ‘Catalunya vespre esports’ on Catalunya Radio, in a special broadcast from La Masia saying that “La Masia is one big family for all the people living there”.

Andrés Iniesta was the protagonist of the programme ‘Catalunya vespre esports’ on Catalunya Radio hosted by Òscar Fernández and which decided to broadcast especially out of FC Barcelona’s youth facility. The Director of La Masia, Carles Folguera, and the President of Barça Atlètic, Jacint Borràs, also took part, the latter saying that "if there is one thing we can be proud of, it’s having a facility like this to train so many young people and at the same time helps them satisfy their dream of one day making it to the first team”.

A large group of young footballers live at La Masia, some of which play for the Junior A and B sides at FC Barcelona. Iniesta was asked a host of questions about his own memories of forming part of the Masia family.

“Illusion, sacrifice and work”

Andrés Iniesta, like so many other first team players that started out at La Masia, has set an example for the new set of youngsters at the Camp Nou to watch through the emblematic windows of the building. “I would tell these young players never to lose their hope, and to work hard every single day to make the dream of playing in the first team come true, which is something very few are able to do” he said.

Playing style and philosophy of life

The midfielder arrived at La Masia when he was 14 and says being there taught him a whole series of values about how a footballer should lead his life. “At La Masia, as you grow as a footballer, you also acquire values that make you more mature. Effort, sacrifice, solidarity and generosity are values that the people that run La Masía are always trying to instil in us”.

“I will keep the good memories”

The player from Fuentealbilla remembers that “the first days there were very sad because I missed my family and mostly not being at home but I’d rather treasure the good memories I have from here: training, trips with my mates and being able to be so close to first team players when they were training”.