ANDREA ORLANDI got to witness greatness first-hand when he trained with Ronaldinho at Barcelona.
But two things shocked the star-struck winger as he stepped out for his first session with the LaLiga giants.
Spaniard Orlandi, 39, was released by Espanyol’s academy before signing for Alaves.
With just three first-team appearances under his belt, though, he made a shock loan move to hometown club Barcelona.
In two seasons at the Nou Camp, Orlandi made just one senior appearance – in May 2006 once they were already crowned league champions – but did play in the Copa Catalunya and scored five goals in 67 Barcelona B games.
But being at the club meant he got to take to the field each day with the likes of Xavi, Andres Iniesta, Carles Puyol, a young Lionel Messi and Ronaldinho.
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The Brazilian genius was the best player in the world in 2005 – confirmed by his solo Ballon d’Or win that year.
However, it was not just his skills that took Orlandi’s breath away.
Remembering his first training session at Barca, Orlandi said: “Ronaldinho. Wow. The first time I trained with the first team, he was the first played to turn up in the dressing room and he did his ‘surfer’ handshake.
“I couldn’t believe it, I said to myself, ‘This isn’t real, this isn’t happening.’
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“I kept looking at him to make eye contact, to see if he would talk to me. He would make jokes, but then in training he was just incredible.”
Ronaldinho joined Barcelona from PSG in 2003 for £25million and played a pivotal role in transforming the club’s fortunes around.
His 94 goals in 207 games across five seasons helped yield two LaLiga crowns, two Supercopas de Espana and the big one, the 2006 Champions League.
But as well as his playful side in the dressing room and trademark hand gesture, Orlandi was stunned by one underrated and surprising attribute: Ronaldinho’s strength.
He added: “He was one of the most powerful players I’ve ever seen. He had massive legs, and he was super powerful and strong.
“His legs, just so strong. And then technically too.
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“I’ve seen Messi as a young 18-year-old boy breaking through. But if you compare the magic of Ronaldinho to Messi, Messi being probably the best player ever, Ronaldinho was different.
“Even in terms of talent he had something else. I just wanted to be close to him, to be in the same five-a-side team for training.
“I was just living my dream. Every time I went home after training with him, I would tell stories about him to my girlfriend, my parents, my friends. I was so proud that I was able to train with him, he was the best I’ve seen by far.
“He was just a rock star. And he changed the modern history of the club. Barca fans are quite negative historically but then he came in. When you play or work with a smile, it’s contagious.
“He kicked off that new era at Barcelona, winning the Champions League against Arsenal when I was at the club. It was a very important moment.
“When you see Ronaldinho and Xavi, I just wanted to be them. I was so impressed, it was just like going to Disney for me!”
Orlandi did not make his Barcelona switch permanent and in 2007 headed to Swansea on a free transfer.
In five years in South Wales, the winger earned promotion to the Championship and then into the Premier League, where he scored a diving header after just 25 seconds against Wolves in one of just three top-flight games for the Swans.
A two-year stint at Brighton followed before one year at Blackpool in 2014-15.
Orlandi retired in February 2019 after spells in Cyprus, India and Italy when a cardiac pathology was detected.
But despite hanging up his boots, he remains heavily involved in football – both as a pundit LaLiga TV and now also as Antoine Griezmann’s agent.
The transfer window is incredible, tiring, and stressful… my wife is not happy!
Andrea Orlandi
He added to LaLiga Talks: “Antoine’s sister wanted to build an agency around Antoine and was looking for a football person to run it.
“Starting with a player like Antoine is a huge responsibility but it’s a huge privilege as well. I connected with him straight away.
“It was a great opportunity to work with a world champion to start off with and to build what I would say is a very good agency.
“We look after players, we care for them. I just want the best for them.
“Now I’m a Fifa agent. I passed the exam. I’ve been working for more than three years now, and I’m gaining experience. I’m loving it.
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“The excitement of the transfer window is incredible. It is tiring, and it is stressful. My wife is not happy with what I’m doing! I‘m the happy boy.”
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
