We are talking about Barcelona’s lost gem in the 2000s Bojan Krkić and his journey at Barcelona.
The Rising Star of La Masia
In the mid-2000s, Barcelona got their hands on a gem from La Masia ”Bojan Krkić”. He was breaking records at an unstoppable pace and was heralded as the next Lionel Messi. The Spaniard made his Barcelona debut at 17, becoming the youngest player to wear the Blaugrana jersey.
His first season was astonishing compared to the level of football at that time, he netted 10 goals with the likes of Messi, Henry, and Eto in attack. He becomes the youngest scorer in the club’s history at the time.
Bojan’s silk dribbling, quick feet, and silk finishing had the fans excited and dreaming of a legend in the making.
How did Pressure finish him?
Being called “The Next Messi” is not a usual thing for any footballer, especially for a 17-year-old. This name he carried became a burden on him, this tag brought instant expectations from the young man. After every bad game he was questioned by the ruthless Spanish media, this led the youngster to struggle with anxiety directly affecting him on and off the field.
While Messi was consistently performing under similar pressure, Bojan’s mental health deteriorated, which hindered his growth as a player to compete at the top level. As Barcelona’s squad grew stronger every season, it became difficult for Bojan to find his spot.
A career of highs and lows
Although Bojan’s career did not reach the levels expected, it was far from a failure. Bojan won 10 major trophies at the club level represented Spain at the senior level, and played in multiple leagues around the world. He had brief moments at AC Milan, Ajax, Stoke City, Mainz, and Montreal Impact but not what the fans expected. Injuries and mental health made it difficult for Bojan to regain his form.
A Lesson for the fans
Bojan Krkić’s story serves as a lesson in disguise regarding every footballer there is a clear border between critics and expectations, sometimes this borderline is exploited by fans. Fans do not understand the situation around the players and degrade them even more, especially with abuses and hate comments common through social media.
