Bojan: “Lamine’s goal this year is to finish 4th in ESO”

Twelve years after leaving Barça as a player – this summer he returned to work in sports management under the orders of deco- and nine months after hanging up his boots, boy Krkic decided to explain his most personal story. The former striker, in his documentary ‘Bojan, beyond the smile’ shows the anxiety problems he suffered during his rapid ascent to the first team and several other stages, such as his failed debut with the national team in Málaga.

What is in ‘Bojan, beyond the smile’?

Many things that in my path were not said, were not externalized and now they are because I felt I had to do because that could be useful for many people. People see us as footballers, but they don’t know what is behind them and I believe that in this way they can help.

What we are talking about is an issue of anxiety, obviously psychological, fortunately the taboo to talk about these things is over and normalized. In his documentary he helps people not to be afraid to talk about these problems.

At least a little, I hope. In the end, if I’ve learned anything, it’s that accepting our own weaknesses, our own fears is what makes us able to face them and overcome them. This is how I experienced it in the worst situations and it allowed me to grow and become better. Until now, I’m proud of everything I’ve done and the effort I’ve given. As a football player, I could have done more, I could have done fewer things, but what I did I am proud of. I feel really full of everything I’ve experienced and that’s why a part of what I’ve done can now be seen in a film that lasts no more than 55 minutes.

Let’s go back, and imagine Boja coming into the first team at the age of 16 and all the spotlights behind him. At what moment did you know something wasn’t right with you?

In the beginning, when a public character is formed. When you become a public figure, no one teaches you what the impact is. What made me happy was playing football and when I joined the first team, I found a world that I wanted to be in, but there were many things that I did not adapt to. Until I found the healing part, where it exists, it was a learning experience and that’s when I started to feel things change.

And when do you raise your hand and say: ‘I need help to handle all this’?

After one game we played at home against Osasuna. When I get home I have the first episode and, from then on, you get scared. The first time, when you do not understand what is happening to you. Then I lived with it for a few months and learning, in everyday life, made me learn how to manage it.

What advice would you give to youngsters who have just broken into the first team or are about to make it?

It’s hard to give advice because we’re all different, each of us has our own emotions, our sensitivities, people don’t have the same understanding, people understand more, others less, so it’s really visible how the players adapt to the changes, how they accept it. and from there you can help or advise them. Before it happens, I think nothing can be explained because everyone has to live it and from there you can have an impact.

He left Barça, he has a lot of experience in different teams, countries and even continents, but he is only 33 years old. Why did you decide to leave football?

It’s probably because of this, because all the decisions I made, most of them were made thinking that it would be the best, very few were made thinking that you think it’s what you need to do. In the last months I felt that my time as a player was over. I felt full, of abundance, that I had lived everything, and that age did not matter. I started very young, I lived 16 very intense times. And I closed a stage without fear, with experiences.

In those 16 seasons in the elite, what was the lesson you learned the most?

There are many lessons I get. There are many changes on an extreme level, but in the end I was left with the ability to manage your own goals, your own goals. Ultimately, we are in a world of constant change, we want everything now, and that makes you more demanding, more ambitious… it’s great to be demanding and ambitious but you have to know how to balance it and everything. these situations are the Over time and years applicable to many emotions I have learned.

After twelve years away from home, he returned this season to be on the Deco organizational chart. Besides keeping an eye on borrowers, I understand that you will also be in touch with the first team, where a boy like Lamine appears, breaking the precocity records that you once broke. What comes to your mind when you see Lamine?

That he is really a good player, that he has a lot of talent, that at 16 years old he achieved it and seeing this speed, we are about to see a 13 year old beat him. You have to go very quietly, very calmly, because in the end these children are children. Lamine is doing 4th in ESO and for me his goal should be to finish 4th in ESO, because on a professional level, there is no doubt that he is ready. But we must all be aware that the path, which many say is short, is long, we must take care that everything goes well, everything flows and deadlines are met.

I don’t know if you had a chance to talk to him or any other youth to explain your own experience.

I talked to some players, but I think at the moment, when a player is promoted to the first team, it doesn’t see other things. So many emotions that take so much time. I’m not one of those who interfere, I like to make people feel that I’m there and if I can help with something very small, I’m ready to do it.

Speaking of Lamine. The other day Messi said he has the potential to win the Ballon d’Or. Do you see it too?

It is very easy to say and he is probably a player who can reach a very high level, but ask Leo what it costs to win a Ballon d’Or. For me we don’t need to say these things, we should all be aware when we say that a child from 16 years old can win the Ballon d’Or because very few players in history have achieved it. Lamine is in a very early process, he has to continue to grow, learn a lot of things so that the next step leads to the next and the next, the next… And I see the Ballon d’Or is still very far for say that.

And what is more damaging, a lot of media coverage or the locker room itself where a rookie can receive hazing in order to a priori grow earlier?

Honestly, it’s everyone’s responsibility, teammates, coaches, club, environment… I think it’s everyone’s responsibility that no matter how much it changes, 16-year-old boys are still children and we should be aware. in the decisions we make and all the reactions we have the moment we make them.

He studied to be a coach, but now he is in a different field that is more related to sports management. Do you set aside training for one day?

I’m getting my coaching license and I’m doing an internship with Cadet A. Now I’m very happy and very grateful for the role I have. Become a coach? We’ll see, but I feel like everything I’m doing now will help me if I do something in the future.

I understand that it would be too early to make a decision about the loan players he is following, but some say: maybe we have to think about it before June when he can return.

There are players that we are obviously monitoring who could be interesting for us next year, that’s why we loaned them, they have been sold to us, because we understood that this year they won’t be able to play here but they will be able to return to being better players. . They are all in a good place to grow.

I give a direct example: Ansu Fati. How do you see it and do you think you suffered a little bit in that responsibility of getting Messi’s ’10’, beyond the physical aspect, which also affected it.

I think Ansu made a very good decision to go to Brighton, who is playing very good football in one of the most powerful leagues. The other day I came back very happy because this is a team that plays football very well and the part that calmed me down is that it is in very good hands. His coach understands football as we do, with talent, with young players, Ansu is in a good place to grow, the coach wants to get the best out of him and be himself. He has an exciting season ahead that will help him grow.

Deco has a partner and is now his boss. What about that relationship with Deco?

The truth is that 17-year-old Bojan does not know Deco, or Ronaldinho, or Samuel… because he is too young and has too much respect to approach these players. Bojan is very grateful to him now that he has met Deco, he is very happy to be with him, he has taught me since the first day and is very involved with me. I’m so happy.

Apart from tracking, are there other things you do?

There are a few things, I’m here to help the club with anything needed. I have experience as a player, in many countries, I have been with many players from different countries… which allows me to empathize with them, from the reserve team, to the first team, even in cadets, where I am. doing internships, and that’s why I allow you to talk to the first team staff, the reserve team, the technical office and take part in things.

His tribute is pending, is there a date?

I was very excited that that match could be played because of how it was organized and where it was, but it could not happen, but I know that the Federation would like to have a gesture with me and think I think before the end of the year we will see something.

A Catalunya-Barça?

I don’t know if it’s for gaming… I’d be happy to play but I don’t think it’s for gaming.

Finally, invite our readers to watch your documentary…

I tried to convey everything I experienced as a player, to show Bojan personally, I hope that this is a message that can reach as many people as possible, that it can be useful, that many people can feel identity and it is that, a positive message that any difficulty can be overcome.