"It's not goodbye, it's see you later, I know I'll be back," confessed Jordi Alba, who entered a Camp Nou for the last time as a player immersed in its reconstruction. Just like the Barça that he leaves after 18 years. "But you're getting better and better," actor José Corbacho told him, who directed the script with the right dose of humor and sensitivity. "Tell the coach," Alba replied. “I have always gone face to face. Although sometimes I have been a bit vinegar ”, confessed the full-back, who is leaving due to a lack of minutes a year before the end of his contract.
Everyone gave the necessary explanations in an 1899 Auditorium that was also filled with good words, memories and best wishes for Alba. Always proud of his origins. Enjoy when she played laugh. Sentimental when she had to remember her family. “My grandfather Paco never saw me debut in the First Division. Less in Barcelona. I will never remove the thorn. That is why I want to dedicate my entire career to them”, said the most sentimental Jordi Alba.
The show had everything. The necessary dose of humor was directed by Gerard Piqué. “He hit some tremendous fights. He had fried Lenglet ”, said the ex-central. “You left a great void when you left. By the way, you owe me a meal”, Alba reminded him, making the entire auditorium laugh.
The sentimental dose with the first remote-controlled message to Barça was provided by his family. His wife, Romarey Ventura, left with her sons Piero and Bruna. The third is on the way. “I'm nervous”, she confessed while she tried to appease the enthusiasm of her little ones, enthralled when they saw themselves in the photographs projected on the Auditori screen. "Look, he's daddy and we are," Bruna said. Only Corbacho managed to appease his impetus by entertaining them with some cardboard. "There have been difficult things and moments this last year but he has always faced them with a smile," his wife finally managed to explain.
Xavi's turn came. Touched with a friend's goodbye. “I love him very much. Surely he has been disappointed by my decisions as a coach. I stay with the person. It is a heart with legs. You know you have my friendship”, said Xavi. “When I went to the national team, he told me that he would be the side of the national team for ten years and that was the thing. As a coach, I think I will miss him too," Alba said. “I know it hasn't been easy for Xavi. And I want to say that Alba has given up part of his file. It says a lot about him," Laporta explained. "I thank you for saying so," the man from L'Hospitalet replied.
There were many videos of former coaches like Vicente del Bosque or Luis Enrique. Also of exjugadores like Luis Suárez, Iniesta, Pedrito or Carles Aleñá. All highlighted his personality, perseverance and exemplary role for young people. And of course there was no shortage of Messi's video, "What can I tell you that you don't know? I love you very much," said the Argentine. “He has given me almost all the goals I have scored. Good friends like Leo, Luis, Pepe Costa... That's what I take with me, ”he replied. Alba "I'm going to have him for sure on a day-to-day basis, but they're going to miss him here," said Sergio Busquets. Message in the code of the future?
Like any good show, at the height of a legend, the entire 1899 Auditorium applauded him while he took the last photo with his colleagues. "I'm worried. With these beautiful acts, let's see if they all go away ”, Laporta slipped.
