The Athletic, "A glimpse behind the phenomenon of Jordi Lloret (Part 1/4)" by Alex Stones.
Llibreria de Fantasia, El Raval, Barcelona
We are sitting on makeshift seats of stacks of books near the entrance of Llibreria de Fantasia. Only the stubborn sunlight coming through the doorway illuminates this ancient-looking bookstore.
Heavy coughing interrupts the silent murmur of the neighborhood outside as Señor Garcia returns from behind a particularly large wall of books. As he reaches us, I notice him holding a disintegrating copy of La sombra del viento[1]by Carlos Ruiz Zafon.
"So…," Señor Garcia gazed outside through the store exit, "What do you wish to ask?"
I signal to White before continuing, "We know that this store was a very important place for him. That you were.. I mean, you are a very important individual to him. How do you feel seeing Jordi lead Barca to glory?"
Silence settles in response to my question as White and I exchange glances.
"I know you, lady. You have interviewed that rascal before."
I sit up straighter, "Yes, I am Alex."
He has still not removed his gaze from the street outside as the store goes silent again.
"He was a quiet kid, but he was full of wonder.
Every morning, I would hear the patter of his feet several moments before he would run in here.
No greeting, just a wide smile as he held up a raisin bread stolen from his mother's fresh batch. Without a word, the rascal would announce the beginning of a hidden transaction.
He would sit where your assistant is and would read till the sunlight had shifted from that area. Only after that would he put back the book, give me a wide smile, and run off."
For the first time, we spot a grin on Señor Garcia's rugged face.
"Has he always loved reading?" I instinctively asked.
Señor Garcia turns to me for the first time before turning back, "Yes."
"What is in your hand, Señor?"
"This was his favorite book. Since before he could read such a novel, he would have me read it to him. Somehow, out of all the settings of fantasy and adventure he read, this mystery set in Barcelona intrigued him most.
I have never let anyone else touch this book."
He lightly caresses the torn cover of the novel, still looking outside, "We are all vain people. I prefer to believe that, by introducing this book to him, I had some responsibility in his love for this city and its people."
…
"When did you realize he could be a professional footballer?"
"I don't know... I think I considered it to be a possibility when I realized how much he loved it. I told you that he has always been a quiet kid. Not one to talk or open up. But Jordi was a different person around a football. A writer expresses herself on the page. A painter expresses himself on the canvas. Jordi expresses himself on the football pitch. That is his page, his canvas. Football was, and is, both his escape and his expression."
"One last question, Señor Garcia. What would you like to say to Jordi?"
By now, we have gotten used to the customary silence after each question.
"Keep going, Narrador. You deserve everything." He gets up immediately, putting an end to the conversation.
As we step out of the bookstore, Señor Garcia stops us.
He hands me a khaki pack of books before turning back, "Tell him that we are all proud of him."
...
After leaving the bookstore, which was so formative in Jordi Lloret's childhood, we make our way to the residence of Isaac Guerrero. Isaac was a coach at La Masia in 2009 and the first to identify the talent in Jordi.
"What were your first impressions of him?"
Isaac shakes his head, "They always have something more. It isn't just their talent in football or the physical, you know? The special ones, the ones who define eras, those players have a different presence. Do you understand what I mean?"
I nod excitedly. It seems very important to Isaac that he gets everything right.
"It was the same with Jordi. At just 6 years old, he had an aura of solitude to him. Last month, I remember reading some article describe him as a 'melancholic hero'. That was accurate for him even then.
He was very quiet, but he still stood out because there was a self-confidence to him. Unlike the other children, Jordi was not seeking attention or approval. It is impossible to forget a kid like that."
"You recommended him, but only after some deliberation. Why did you hesitate?"
Isaac shrugs, "He was physically weak, but that has never been a major focus at La Masia. When he gave the trial, from what I saw, his technique was not very developed. It is near blasphemous to say this now, Jordi's technique is so perfect, but it was really lacking during the camp. That is why I hesitated. His technique and his body couldn't catch up with his mind."
"And what made you go through with the recommendation, in the end?"
"His mind. The whole world witnesses it now, but... You know that feeling where you are out of your depth? That is how I felt at the time. This 6-year-old boy read the game and understood it far beyond what I could imagine as a coach.
So, I recommended him. If there was one academy that could develop the boy into a player, it was La Masia. That was my belief, and I was correct, wasn't I?"
Isaac settles into a wide grin when he asks me that last question.
"How do you feel watching him play now?"
"Like magic. I feel like a child; that is how much joy I get from watching him.
I feel a lot of pride as well. Choosing him... I think I did a great service to my city and my club. That is the greatest legacy I will leave behind when I die."
...
[1] The Shadow of the Wind by Carlos Ruiz Zafon!! One of my favourite series of all time. Delightful writing and an amazing atmosphere built into the city of Barcelona.