Barcelona youngster hits out at club ahead of free-transfer exit – ‘I did not feel valued’

Hugo Alba, 19-year-old striker and captain of Barcelona’s Juvenil A group, is about to depart the membership along with his contract expiring on June 30.

Regardless of receiving a late renewal supply from the membership to turn into part of Barça Atletic within the Segunda RFEF, Alba has made his resolution to depart.

In truth, the teenage striker has already travelled to Belgrade to bear a medical and signal a three-year take care of Serbian outfit OFK Belgrade, the place he’ll stay till 2028.

The transfer is a part of a broader undertaking, with the participant set to finish pre-season with Purple Star Belgrade, as each golf equipment share possession.

Alba leaves Barcelona after six years, having joined from Elche in 2019.

Alba explains resolution to depart Barcelona

Chatting with Intercomarcal TV (h/t Mundo Deportivo) earlier than departing for Belgrade, Alba expressed his disappointment with how issues ended at Barcelona.

“I didn’t really feel valued as a lot as I assumed I deserved to be. I’ll by no means have a foul phrase to say about Barça, however I’d have preferred to have taken half in some first-team coaching as a result of I believe I’ve earned the chance personally and it hasn’t come to me,” he stated.

The 19-year-old striker additionally voiced his frustration over an absence of probabilities with Barça Atletic this previous season even when the group was battling relegation and wanted some firepower in assault.

“It’s tough for me, seeing that within the reserve group there have been a variety of forwards lacking and that they have been within the relegation locations… I’ve no reply for that,” he famous.

“I don’t have a solution for that, it’s been a wierd state of affairs, I haven’t felt sufficiently valued. These are inner issues on the membership that I don’t know. I believe I earned my method up.”

This was a key purpose behind his resolution to reject the late renewal supply, he confirmed.

“Absolutely, when Barça provides you a renewal, I’d have considered it extra. However seeing the final two seasons, how they’ve handled me, we made the choice with my household and my agent. If they’d given me confidence in Primera RFEF….”

Reflection on the profitable season

Nonetheless, Alba had phrases of reward for Juliano Belletti, beneath whom he gained the league, Copa del Rey, and UEFA Youth League this season with Barcelona’s Juvenil A group.

“This season has been the very best of my life, successful the Cup and the Youth League so a few years later, and as captain, has been unforgettable,” stated Alba.

“Belletti advised me he wished me to be his captain, I’ve to thank him, he is an ideal coach, in sporting and private phrases, he’s the coach who has left the largest mark on me, he is aware of the way to handle a dressing room due to his expertise as a participant.”

Alba additionally defined how Purple Star’s curiosity happened, with OFK appearing as a stepping stone, saying:

“It comes from a sport in opposition to Purple Star within the UEFA Youth League, I had an excellent sport and my agent advised me that they have been watching me, it’s a group that wishes me, has all the time been there… Whenever you see {that a} group trusts you, you say go forward.

“They advised me they have been protecting the “9” for me. I had different provides, however it was my resolution, my household’s resolution, my agent’s resolution, I wished to get out of my consolation zone. It’s a brand new undertaking, you need to take a step and take a danger.”