Former Barcelona midfielder opens up about his departure – ‘If I had stayed…” | OneFootball

Former Barcelona midfielder Francisco Trincao has reflected on his time with the club and shared his thoughts on his eventual departure.

Despite his challenges at Barcelona, he is currently enjoying the best season of his career at Sporting CP in Portugal. With eight goals and 12 assists in 36 games by mid-February, Trincao has become a key player for the Portuguese league leaders.

During his time at Barcelona, Trincao struggled to fully showcase his talent. Although highly regarded when he joined the Catalan giants, he did not manage to reach the level expected of him.

Looking back

Looking back, he acknowledged that leaving the club was a difficult decision. He believed that if he had stayed, he might have had more chances to play, particularly after Lionel Messi’s departure.

“It’s always difficult and at that time, if I had stayed, I could have had more opportunities because it’s the year that Messi left the team and I could have played a little bit that season,” he said as quoted by SPORT.

Francisco Trincao is in the form of his life right now. (Photo by Gualter Fatia/Getty Images)

“I always took it as part of life and thought that I could play a little more because that year I didn’t play as much. I don’t think it changed me that much, I didn’t doubt myself,” he added.

Maturity to play for Barcelona

One of the key reflections Trincao shared was about the maturity required to thrive at a club as demanding as Barcelona. He admitted that being just 20 years old when Barcelona approached him was overwhelming.

“Being 20 years old and having a club like Barça come and tell you that they love you, I don’t think anyone can say no and that you have to take a smaller step.”

The excitement of being wanted by such a prestigious club made it nearly impossible for him to say no. Despite the challenges he faced, he insisted he would never have turned down the opportunity to play for the club.

“There you think that doing things well and playing there, I would never have said no to Barça, but maturity comes with the passage of time,” he noted.

Barcelona may remember him as a player who did not reach his potential, but his current performances suggest that his story is far from over. His experience serves as a reminder that football careers often involve twists and turns before reaching their peak.