Alex Rodriguez

Joining Barcelona's La Masia academy was a dream come true and marked the beginning of the most transformative period of my career. The intensity of training here is unlike anything I experienced before - every session pushes you to your absolute limits.

Working alongside world-class coaches has completely revolutionized my understanding of the game. The tactical complexity we study here, from positional play to pressing triggers, has elevated my football intelligence tremendously. What I love most is the Barcelona philosophy of always looking for the extra pass, the perfect solution.

Training with players who share this same vision and dedication has made me a more complete midfielder. The competition is fierce - every day you're fighting for your place, which has made me mentally stronger and more determined.

I've learned to handle pressure better, whether it's in crucial academy matches or when training with the first-team squad. The coaching staff has really helped me develop my leadership qualities, and I now captain the reserve team regularly. Being here has taught me that football is not just about individual talent, but about understanding your teammates and creating something beautiful together.

My time at Espanyol was where I truly fell in love with the game and discovered my potential as a central midfielder. Coming from local youth football, the step up in quality and professionalism was incredible. The coaches here were the first to really believe in my abilities and gave me the confidence to express myself on the pitch.

I remember my first training session - I was nervous, but the senior players welcomed me and helped me settle in quickly. The youth setup at Espanyol taught me the importance of hard work and humility. We had some amazing matches against other top academies, and these games showed me what level I needed to reach.

The coaching staff focused heavily on technical development, spending hours with me on my first touch, passing accuracy, and positional awareness. I learned to read the game better and understand when to press, when to hold, and when to create.

The friendships I made here are still strong today, and we often reminisce about those incredible training sessions and the joy we felt every time we stepped on the pitch. This period shaped my character as much as my football skills - I learned resilience when things didn't go well, and how to bounce back from setbacks stronger than before.