A profile of Carles Puyol
As a defender, Carles Puyol remains somewhat in the shadow of the likes of Ronaldinho, Samuel Eto’o and Lionel Messi, but with his energy, stamina and focus, he remains a favorite at the Camp Nou and is an essential member of the current line-up. -up. Considered one of the best defenders in the world, Carles Puyol is also the first Catalan captain to hold the Champions League Cup aloft after the team defeated Arsenal in May 2006, a competition in which he was awarded the Defender of the Year.
As team captain since the 2003-2004 season after Phillip Cocu left Barcelona for PSV Eindhoven, Puyol’s stocky build with legs built like tree trunks and a characteristic head of curls belie his speed and agility on the pitch and once the shirt is removed, it reveals a ripped torso that is the product of many hours of hard training, impressively free of any signs of body fat.
In fact, Puyol’s dedication is such that he is opposed to being left out of a single-game selection, even if it is for a break when the team is playing several games for a short period of time and it has been noted that he goes to training. sessions in which he was specifically given a day off.
Born in La Pobla de Segur, which is in the interior of Catalonia, on April 13, 1978, Carles Puyol played for the local team as a child. He signed for FC Barcelona B in 1996 at the age of 17 and made his first-team debut in 1999 under Louis Van Gaal, when visiting Barcelona beat Valladolid 2-0.
Currently playing in the centre-back position, Puyol first played for Barcelona in the right-back position when he was promoted from the B team. His original position as a child was in goal, but when shoulder injuries prevented him from continuing, he started playing as a striker, which perhaps contributed to his attacking mentality today. determination to stop the ball as a defender, but what is certain is that he would have played hard, perhaps contributing to his injuries.
Although he plays for the Spanish national team, of which he has also been captain on occasion, Carles Puyol is a Barcelona fan from head to toe and it is difficult to imagine him playing for another club when his contract ends in 2010, whatever the offer there may be on the table. . While Messi grew up at Barcelona – and there is no question about his current dedication to the club – it remains to be seen whether he can be lured in, but players like Ronaldinho and Eto’o, whatever their brilliance, can only be considered laborers.