Wednesday’s Gamper Trophy match at Camp Nou promises to be a special occasion for Roma winger Iago Falque, who grew up in Barca’s fabled youth academy. In an exclusive interview with the Giallorossi new No. 14, Falque provided a fascinating insight into his time at La Masia, where he played alongside the likes of Sergio Busquets and Pedro.
Are you excited about the match at the Camp Nou?
“Yes, Barcelona was a big part of my footballing education. It’ll be a great match and will be an important occasion for us as we’re taking on the European champions. I’ve played there before when I was with Rayo Vallecano… and we lost 6-0!”
You spent seven years in the Barcelona youth academy. How much influence did that experience have on your senior career?
“It had a huge influence because playing for a big club like Barcelona opens doors for you to move to other teams when you leave. I was in the Barça youth set-up between the ages of 10 and 18, so it was a time when I was growing up as a person. I really matured during those years.”
Is there anyone at Barcelona you have a particularly strong bond with?
“I don’t want to pick out one person in particular. I made lots of friends there and still talk to them today. Many of them were guys like me in the youth academy that now play for other clubs. During my time at La Masia, the centre which houses all of the Barça youth sides, I had lots of coaches and team-mates who I shared the experience with, so I just want to thank them all for contributing to my growth as a man and as a player.”
During your time at Barca, which first-team player did you try to emulate?
“Rivaldo – he’s still my idol now. He’s my favorite player and I followed him even when I left Catalonia.”
You and your new team-mates will contest the Gamper Trophy on Wednesday. Can you explain to the Roma fans the significance the match holds for the Catalans?
“It’s the occasion when the team is presented to the home fans ahead of the new season and is always played against a big team. There is a lot of tradition behind the match and there is always a lot of interest from the home fans, seeing as it’s the team’s first match at the Camp Nou and people are always curious to see any new arrivals in action. Usually the stadium is really full and I went to see it many times when I was at the club.”
Do you know any of the current Barça crop from your time at La Masia?
“Yes, I played alongside Busquets, Pedro and Bartra. And there are many more that I shared a pitch with at various times during my stay in the youth academy. We all went to school together so I know almost all the guys who were at La Masia and are still at the club now.”
You’ll be lining up against some fantastic players on Wednesday. Putting Leo Messi to one side for now, who do you think is Barça’s main threat?
“I’d say Andres Iniesta, because he’s the brains of the team. He’s the decisive player in getting the ball to the likes of Messi, Suarez and Neymar in positions where they can score goals.”
The Gamper Trophy takes place on August 5, exactly one month after the squad got together for the first time after the summer break. Have you realized what it means to be a part of AS Roma in this first month?
“I’ve realized that I’m now part of a very big club that has ambitious targets and wants to win. I feel that desire everywhere – at the club and among the fans.”
How are you feeling physically?
“I’m good. I’ve been working hard with my team-mates at our training camp up in the mountains and on the tours of Australia and Indonesia. We’re now stepping up the intensity of our practice sessions. Just like everyone else, I want to be as well-prepared as possible for the opening day of the season. I get on well with the coaching staff and fitness coaches, who I know are new to Roma too. They have their own methods and all of us are adapting well. We haven’t had any injuries at all yet and I think that’s another signal that we’re doing some good work with them.”
The team had a bit of a tough time of it against Sporting CP, but performed much better in Australia against Real Madrid and Manchester City. How is the group coming along?
“Sporting were quite a bit further down the line in terms of their preparation, given that the Portuguese league gets underway before Serie A. They have a massive tie in the Champions League playoffs coming up very soon too, so I think it was quite normal that we were a bit low on energy compared to them. Against the teams that had begun their pre-seasons at around the same time as us, such as Real Madrid and City in Melbourne, we held our own well, playing some good football and matching them in terms of athletic performance. I think that we’re on the right track – the most important thing is that we continue to train hard so that we’re ready for when the new season begins on August 22.”
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