Of the impressive staff of the FC Barcelona in the season 2010/11, few maybe will remember to Ibrahim Afellay. Andl Dutch arrived to Catalonia like pertinent wintry reinforcement of the PSV Eindhoven and, although only it could play a semester with the club, gave the luxury to win LaLiga and the Champions League like culé, contesting a total of 35 parties in which it added a pair of so many and an assistance.
In an interview for the Dutch magazine 'Voetbal', the ex mediocentro culé kidded on his go through the Barça, to where arrived in return of 3 million euros to play season and average. In a staff that had Leo Messi, Xavi Hernández, Andrés Iniesta and David Villa like main offensive letters, the one of Utrecht ensured that "each rondo was like stopping in the middle of the road, while all these cars went through you all the sides".
The pride of Afellay for having played in the Barça
Although it never arrived to settle in the eleven culé, the mediocentro did not hide the pride that represented him play in "a team that dominated the football". "They are moments that never will forget in the life; it was odd and very special form part of all this", said Ibrahim. After the exit of Guardiola, the Barça yielded him to the Shalke (2012) and Olympiacos (2013). Finally, the tulip fichó by the Stoke City in 2015 after culminating his agreement with the group blaugrana.
On Pep, Afellay did not doubt in surrendering in front of a trainer to the that considers the best of the world. "Even in my period, Pep already was a big trainer. Where want to that it has been, has left his footprint in the game", commented the ex mediocentro withdrawn in 2020 after a brief return to the PSV. For the one of Utrecht, the Barcelona of Guardiola was able to carry the football "to another dimension" , mainly in the season in which it arrived to the club.
Afellay Expects that Pep win the Champions with the City
In his interview with 'Voetbal', Ibrahim went further on his admiration by Pep. "Nowadays the teams play much more by the results, but Pep follows betting by the attractive form to play'. I gladden me that still there are trainers that think like him. I wish him to Guardiola that at last can carry this Champions with the City. It would be a good reward by the football that proposes from the first day", argued the ex mediocentro.