“I felt so small” - Former Barcelona defender opens up on playing with Ronaldinho, Xavi and Iniesta after unexpected transfer
Former Barcelona defender Mario Abrante has opened up about playing alongside club legends like Ronaldinho, Xavi, and Andres Iniesta. He spent a year at Camp Nou, representing the club in the 2003-04 season.
The former centre-back failed to break through to the Atletico Madrid senior squad, and joined Real Valladolid in 2001. During his five-year stint with the club, Abrante had an unexpected opportunity to play for Barcelona on loan in the 2003-04 season.
In an interview with Spanish outlet AS, the retired 42-year-old revealed how he ended up at Camp Nou:
“That summer, the president of Valladolid calls me and says: ‘Look, Mario, a big Spanish team wants you. Barça wants to sign you, but you can’t tell anyone. If you say anything to anyone, the deal’s off.’
"At that time, my friends would tell me: ‘Come on, let’s go out and party,’ and I’d say: ‘I’m not going anywhere.’ I was eating well and taking care of myself. They’d ask: ‘What’s wrong with you, man?’ because on vacation, I’d normally gain five kilos."
Abrante continued:
"Barça paid three million for me. That year, Ronaldinho, Quaresma, and Márquez signed too, plus players like Xavi, Iniesta, Luis Enrique, Cocu, and Kluivert were already there. I felt so small. Everything was so big – it was like another world.”
Abrante couldn't cement his spot in Barca's starting lineup. He went on to play just two official games for the club. He eventually returned to Valladolid, who were relegated at the end of that season.
Barcelona legend Leo Messi names Ronaldinho as a figure who had a big impact on his career
Barcelona legend Lionel Messi named Ronaldinho, alongside Pep Guardiola, as two footballing icons who impacted his career heavily. The legendary Argentine playmaker spent five years with Ronaldinho at Barca, playing 80 games together.
Messi also spent four years playing under Pep Guardiola, who led the Catalan giants to 14 trophies in that short period. Speaking about the two, Messi told Mundo Deportivo (via GOAL):
"I think there are two that have had a big impact on me for different reasons. Pep [Guardiola], because I had him as a coach for many years and we achieved incredible things that we would never have imagined.
"And Ronaldinho, because the way he welcomed me, how he helped me, was very useful to me in my first moments in the first team."
Lionel Messi remains the greatest player Camp Nou has ever seen, with 672 goals and 303 assists in 778 games.