Former Barcelona and Benfica forward praises Casado and reveals how he almost returned to the club | OneFootball

Former Barcelona, Celta Vigo, and Manchester City forward Nolito has shared his thoughts on his time at Barcelona, his experience under Luis Enrique in the reserve team, and his perspective on the club’s Champions League clash.

As Barcelona prepare for their crucial encounter against Benfica, Nolito was asked whether he sees Barcelona as the favourites or if he believes Benfica could cause trouble for them.

He acknowledged that while Barcelona are performing at an exceptional level, Benfica are a strong side, especially when playing at home.

“I think it’s going to make it difficult for them. It’s clear that Barça are at an impressive level, but Benfica is pressing there in their stadium and we’re in the Champions League. We’ll see what happens,” he began saying.

Praise for Casado

Nolito likes to watch Marc Casado. (Photo by Alex Caparros/Getty Images)

The conversation then shifted to the young talents coming through Barcelona’s ranks. Nolito expressed his admiration for several academy graduates but particularly highlighted Marc Casado as someone he likes.

He also praised Lamine Yamal, noting that despite his young age, he has been performing impressively.

Nolito pointed out that it is never easy to play at such a high level for a club like Barcelona, but Yamal is handling the challenge remarkably well.

“I like Casado a lot. Apart from Lamine. It’s wonderful to see him play. Despite his age, he’s doing quite well. Because it’s not easy to play at this age in Barcelona with the squad they have.”

Reflecting on his time

Nolito could not make is mark at Barcelona. (Photo by David Ramos/Getty Images)

Reflecting on his own time at the club, Nolito recalled playing alongside a talented generation of academy players, including Thiago Alcantara, Jonathan Soriano, Marc Bartra, Sergi Roberto, Rafinha, Gerard Deulofeu and Jonathan dos Santos.

He also spoke about Luis Enrique, who was just beginning his managerial career at the time.

Nolito always believed Enrique would go on to achieve great success, describing him as a mentor who guided him both on and off the pitch. He credited Enrique for being honest and supportive, always offering constructive feedback.

“I have always said it, for me he is my soccer father. He was a person who helped me. He was a guy who was always on your side.

“He told you your good things and your bad things. Many times they have his image, for example, the one of the press conferences. But for me, Luis Enrique is a magnificent person in every way.”

Chance of returning

Nolito was once close to returning to Barcelona. (Photo by Juan Manuel Serrano Arce/Getty Images)

The discussion then turned to a moment when Nolito had the opportunity to return to Barcelona while playing for Celta Vigo. At the time, Luis Enrique was managing Barcelona and was keen on bringing him back.

Nolito admitted that he was very close to rejoining the club, but due to personal circumstances, the move did not materialise.

Eventually, he received a call from Manchester City and opted to move to England instead, describing his time there as a completely different experience.

“A lot, a lot, a lot. But he had a problem in his family… But the idea was to return to Barcelona. Then Tito Pep came and called me for City and we decided to go to England. There, to see the darkness,” he laughs.

Picking a favourite

Nolito decided not to pick a favourite. (Photo by Carlos Rodrigues/Getty Images)

When asked whether he would support Benfica or Barcelona in the upcoming Champions League tie, Nolito remained cautious.

He acknowledged that as the competition reaches its final stages, small mistakes can prove costly. Rather than predicting an exact result, he simply expressed his hope for an exciting and competitive match.

“These games scare me. As the Champions League final approaches, the end of the season, I think small mistakes are paid dearly. I don’t dare tell you an exact result,” he added.

Source: SPORT