Bojan: “I am and always will be a cule”
FC Barcelona Striker and Spain U-21 International Bojan Krkic said goodbye as a player of FC Barcelona at a press conference this afternoon. Krkic underlined that “it is not an easy situation, it is bittersweet. I was at this club for a long time. Now something new starts for me.” But, he has made the decision with “hope to recover enjoying football, something I had lost, especially this last year.” The striker from Linyola also remembered the fans, whom he thanked for their support and said that “I am and always will be a cule.”
In the presence of Puyol, Xavi and Zubizarreta, the new AS Roma player is to ready to look forward. “I’m just 20 years old and want to continue what I have started here.” Bojan also thanked the Italian club for, “the interest shown in the last month, has earned a place in my heart” and acknowledged the fact that the new coach of Roma, Luis Enrique, has been crucial in his choice. “I’m grateful to him.” Krkic said it was not possible to stay in Barcelona, and said he is happy another club believes in him.
Krkic has refused to forecast his future comeback “because in football things change. For example, last season I ended the season as an important player. The way I finished, I didn’t think I’d be leaving now.” Krkic is aware that returning to Barcelona will depend on him and his performance.
The Catalan admitted that, “the last year, there wasn’t much belief in me, I could not prove what I’m capable of and it hurts,” but has also added that “I consider myself privileged to have been a part of the best team in the world. I take the positive memories with me.”
As a player, Krkic commented that “there have been moments that they [the club] have not been fair … fair or not, the reality is that I’m leaving Barça.” The new Roma player has made clear he does not want controversy with Pep. “As a club member, I can say that Guardiola is the best coach you can have. But as a player there are things that I don’t agree with”. Krkic also added that “although it has been made official today, I’ve been made known of the idea for some time …the decision to leave was due to a lack of minutes,” he also underlined that since the Champions League final he has not spoken to Guardiola, and the decision to leave was his. “It hurts a lot not to play the final of the Champions for the second time, and this is a thorn that has made me decide,” Krkic said.
When asked about the best memory he had, the player responded, “Many. The day of the [Copa Del Rey] final, my debut, the first goal in the Camp Nou … there are many good things.” Bojan added that he, “will miss the teammates, the city, playing at the Camp Nou, [and] wearing the shirt I’ve always worn.”
Krkic ended with a touching message to entire Blaugrana world. “I want to thank all the people that helped me fulfill my dream. Lobera, Rodolfo and all the coaches and teammates I ever had in the cantera. I would also like to thank all the members and fans, because without them, I would not fulfill this dream. I feel privileged to have been a symbol for some of them. Thanks to Pep and my colleagues, especially those homegrown ones like Xavi and Puyol.” Both captains were present at the press conference to bid farewell to the striker.
“I am and always will be a cule,” Krkic said in closing. “Visca Barca i Visca la Roma.”
People should be less subjective and keep an open mind here. I love Pep as much as the next cule, but Bojan is still very euphemistic regarding Pep's role in destroying Bojan's career in Barcelona.
The truth of the matter is that Guardiola never trusted this guy and I'm not sure his reasons were really sound. When Pep came, Bojan was already a good player and at that age, he could have become much better. For any player to thrive, he needs support and minutes. Bojan had neither. Do you seriously believe that Victor Valdez could become such a great keeper if he was kept on the bench because he was making some silly mistakes from time to time?
Pep's lack of trust in Bojan was really apparent when Ibrahimovic, despite his disrespectful nature towards Pep, was always chosen over Bojan, maybe because Pep wanted to justify the transfer decision, but nevertheless, Bojan was far more impressive everytime he played in Ibrahimovic's place. He made Barcelona's games watchable again after Ibrahimovic was ruining it.
Pedro is an excellent player and I believe he is underrated. He's a prime example of how a player develops when the coach trusts him and gives him opportunities. After the injury in March, Pedro performed abysmally in a series of games but that didn't affect the coach's decision to bench him even for a game and finally Pedro scored to great goals in the last two games in the CL. Bojan never had this luxury.
Even if you dislike the kid, you have to be fair in your criticism in that Bojan never really played that much this year or in the previous years to prove himself. He was being given short minutes in the end of the matches where everything was sealed, or he was played in a formation in which he was the captain. That tells you of the quality of the squad he was in. It's very difficult for Bojan to perform like Villa when he isn't surrounded by the same teammates supporting Villa. Just ask Messi in Argentina.
That Champions League final irked me too, to be honest. That was really a cruel decision from Pep. Two years ago, Pedro was brought in as a sub in the dying minutes of the game even though Bojan was a more vital player at the time. But that's all fine considering Pedro was Guardiola's own player, someone he helped develop, but this year this wasn't the case. Afellay, who's been in Barcelona only for a few months with little impact, was chosen over Bojan in the dying minutes. That was enough evidence that Pep did not want Bojan in his squad. He succeeded in convincing many of the fans that Bojan wasn't a good enough player (though I disagree) and now very few people may express their dissatisfaction with the decision, he couldn't do that in the previous years and such a decision would have been looked upon as a poor one.
I personally don't expect Bojan to return to Barcelona and that is another cruel decision against him. He will play constantly thinking of returning to Barcelona. Without this buy-back clause, he would, sooner or later, accept his fate and become determined to prove himself to Roma instead of Barcelona.
I wish him the very best of luck, something he didn't have much of in the last few years.
If you can't proof yourself then it's up to you not Pep. Look now how Pedro and Busquet are doing. They proof themselves, so Pep trusted them. I think Pep was very patient with him, gave him chances and minutes but he but failed everytime, whenever he got a full game, like in the CdR, he disappointed.
Bojan didn't also get much minutes in Spanish U-21, you wanna blame Luis Milla too?
My head knows that this is possibly the best thing to happen for Bojan; to re-discover his passion for the game and hopefully improve his confidence. Considering the rather one-sided deal that Roma have agreed to, looks like they see his potential and are willing to have faith in him – which is exactly what he needs right now.
Still doesn't make me feel any less sad about this…
Let's put it this way – think of Bojan as not at Barca, but as a player at any other team. If Barca (the best team in the world) went looking for a striker, do you really think Bojan would be at the top of their list?
Of course not. The reason we think of Bojan is because of historical circumstance he happened to be with Barca as a youth. But in terms of his actual standing as a player, he would not be brought to Barca based on his actual performance. Thus, it makes perfect sense to let him go as there are many currently better players at his position (or in positions which Barca needs back-up in).