El Pivote (The Pivot) is a weekly totalBarça column by Anoop Jethwa about the trials and tribulations of FC Barcelona. From the positives to the negatives, this piece will dive deep into the living fabric that is blaugrana. We welcome your thoughts and feedback in the comments section.
El Pivote is back with a bang to fully discuss the controversial decision from Víctor Valdés to announce that he will not be renewing his contract at the club past 2014.
Tonight in Oviedo, the communal capital of the northern province of Asturias, Xavi Hernández and Iker Casillas will jointly accept the Prince of Asturias Award in sport. These awards are given yearly in a total of 8 categories: art, communications and humanities, international cooperation, literature, social sciences, sports, technical and scientific research, and peace. They are governed by the Prince of Asturias Foundation, established by Prince Philip, the heir apparent to the Spanish throne.
Xavi Hernández and Iker Casillas, who were nominated together, won the prestigious 2012 Principe de Asturias Award for Sport this Wednesday, when it was announced that they had beaten the International Paralympic Committee in the final vote for the Award. The President of the Jury, Arantxa Sánchez Vicario, stressed the values that both players represented, as well as their sporting success with both Spain and their clubs.
According to reports in Spain, Real Madrid CF captain and goalkeeper Iker Casillas (30) telephoned FC Barcelona’s captains, defender Carles Puyol (33) and midfielder Xavi Hernández (31), to apologize for his behavior after Barcelona won the Spanish Super Cup on Wednesday. It is hoped that dialogue between the three club and national team captains can help resolve any conflict at club level before it reaches the Spanish national team.
“I congratulate Barcelona, they have played a very good, very serious championship. I congratulate them, on behalf of myself and Real Madrid.”
- Real Madrid goalkeeper Iker Casillas in an interview with FIFA.
Six Barça players have been chosen as part of the FIFAPro World XI 2010. The club provides more than half the team, with Puyol, Piqué, Iniesta, Xavi, Messi and Villa all selected.
Since 2009, FIFA and FIFPro have organised a secret vote amongst more than 50,000 professional players from the players unions throughout the world to decide on an ideal XI.
As preparations for the upcoming Clasico continue, let us spare a thought for those poor sods whose job it is to keep the game goalless – and no I don’t mean Real Madrid’s starting eleven. Of course I’m talking about two of the most crucial players who will walk out onto the Camp Nou pitch on Monday night, players whose jobs are so important yet whose performances are almost invariably overlooked – that’s right, the goalkeepers.
Last season FC Barcelona and Spanish International goalkeeper Víctor Valdés (28) claimed the Zamora trophy for a second straight year after allowing the fewest goals in La Liga. In 38 matches, he allowed only 24 goals. Barcelona’s defense also stood out as one of the best in Europe. To date, it has been a bit of a different story this season. With 6 goals scored against them already, the Barcelona defense is looking less convincing.
FC Barcelona forward and Spanish international, David Villa, has just joined the board of directors of the AFE – Association of Spanish Footballers.
“I’m sad because there won’t be a Spanish team in the Champions League final. It wasn’t a problem for me if [FC Barcelona] were to play the final in the Bernabéu. I’m not one who has those types of things in my head. The elimination was a shame. I have friends there, too.”
Real Madrid and Spanish International goalkeeper Iker Casillas at a press conference on Friday, April 30, 2010.
In an interview with French magazine ‘France Football’, Real Madrid and Spain’s Iker Casillas said that while he considers Lionel Messi to be the favourite for this year’s Ballon d’Or because of his excellent play and titles won with Barcelona, he also hopes that “a Spanish footballer is voted (the best) because many of them deserve it”.
“If I could vote, I would give the trophy to Xavi or Iniesta because they are worthy of this award and because they are my friends. Andreas (Iniesta) and Xavi have won the European Championship (with Spain), while Messi has yet to win a title with Argentina”.
Casillas: Hey, have you heard? The IFFHS has named me the best goalkeeper in the world.
Valdes: Reeeeaaallllyyyy!!!???
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