Do you remember the next Messi before Lamine Yamal or Ansu Fati? Yes, I am talking about Bojan Krkic, the promising La Masia talent whose sudden rise to fame impacted his mental health. As our latest La Masia gems shine, the Catalans must learn that protecting players’ mental health is not optional at all.
The “Next Messi” Curse: Barca Youngsters Need to be Protected
Barca fans and the media are obsessed with labeling every new prodigy as the next Messi. Bojan Krkic’s career failed not because of a lack of talent; it suffocated due to comparisons with an impossible standard. The pressure of media and fame got to his head, and the player became an anxiety patient.
Presently, the latest La Masia gems, Yamal and Cubarsi, are already hailed as generational talents. Yamal, at 17, is consistently being compared to Leo Messi, and this is dangerous. Yamal is extremely young, and these comparisons can mess up your brain big time. Bojan Krkic is a prime example, and so is Ansu Fati to an extent.
Good Rest and Rotations is Pivotal to Save Players from Injuries
Bojan Krkic’s anxiety not only impacted his mind, but also negatively affected his physical health. In February 2008, the player was struck with an anxiety attack during a match against France, and he was forced to leave. He said:
“All those emotions started to take over. I felt like I was no longer in control. My body reacted with dizziness. I had 24-hour dizziness that was accentuated depending on what was happening. When I was calmer, I had more constant dizziness.”
Bojan’s burnout was not odd. At 17, he played 48 games in a single season, and thus, by 21, his spark had dimmed. This sounds familiar, as the same happened with Pedri when he debuted for Barca. Therefore, he paid the price with injuries in the next two to three seasons.
Players need to be protected, and rest is crucial for them. Short-term gains are not worth losing generational talents, and we have already lost a couple (Krkic and Fati).
The Barcelona Media Culture Needs to Evolve
When Krkic withdrew from the Spanish Euros squad in 2008, the media labeled him a quitter. The press was harsh and did not respect his mental health issues. Similar things happen these days as well. In the past couple of months, Yamal failed to score goals, and the media bashed him. Now that he scored a couple of screamers this month, everything is normal.
The club needs to take action against the media’s negativity. These narratives need to be banned, and youngsters must be shielded from this toxic criticism. They are too young to receive so many harsh words and need time to grow and breathe.
Bojan Krkic Wants to Help Yamal
Krkic had some sound advice for Yamal last year after his rise to stardom. Bojan insisted that Yamal must not ignore his studies. He said:
“With Lamine Yamal, we’re talking about a kid in the fourth year of ESO [secondary school]; we’ve spoken about finishing his schooling. I don’t want to smother them at a sensitive moment but they know we’re here at their side, that they have the protection they need.
“People ask: ‘What advice would you give them?’ But it’s not advice. You have to let them live it, experience it, accompany them, help them manage it.”
Bojan Krkic might be the best person in the world to guide Yamal. He has suffered from the Messi comparisons, rise to fame and health issues. Yamal is also on a similar trajectory as Krkic, and needs to be protected at all costs. The story of Bojan Krkic is a lesson for Yamal, Cubarsi and all blooming talents of the footballing world.