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meretriculatried to update the Barça spam, once again rebuffed by character limits. FINE. BE THAT WAY, EL JAY. Victor and Andres deserve their own post, anyway. beware, this one's a bit lengthy. and it contains words and stuff as well as pictures.
anyone who's talked to me for long about Barcelona could tell you that I'm just a tiny bit obsessed with Victor Valdes and Andres Iniesta. they're both very quiet people so there's not a whole lot of resources that I've seen on them (remarkably, considering what a huge impact Iniesta in particular has made both at Barcelona and for Spain). however, by scrounging around the internet, I have uncovered a few awesome facts about them. first and foremost: they were roommates at La Masia in Andres' first year (he was twelve, Victor was fourteen), along with some other names you might know (Pepe Reina, Mikel Arteta, Thiago Motta anyone?). keep in mind that Andres was the most miserably homesick child imaginable when he moved to Barcelona from Albacete - he missed his parents and he cried for most of his first year away from home. there is a probably-untrue but alarming plausible anecdote about a reporter being told not to ask him about his family because it would make him cry.
there is not a whole lot of actual reason for me to be utterly convinced that Victor is still incredibly protective of Andres, but he used to look after Andres at the academy since he'd been there longer (Víctor took care of us and was great with us can I just) and he still sticks up for Andres in interviews. also, well. blind convictions are supposed to be baseless anyway. and in defense of my BFF OTP, there are a lot of small details floating around that support my conclusions. Victor and Andres have been on the same football team since they were at La Masia; they made Barça B at the same time, and were promoted to the first team at the same time as well. and they're perfectly happy to inform interviewers that they're best friends. Victor is apparently giving Andres parenting advice. ♥ (Victor has a son named Dylan; Andres' girlfriend was pregnant with their first daughter, Valeria, at the time of the interview.) when the shortlist for the 2010 Ballon d'Or came out (Xavi, Leo and Andres were the final three; Leo won in the end) Victor repeatedly said in interviews that he was happy for all of them but he wanted Andres to win because Andres is his little brother. Victor, bless his extremely bad-tempered soul, is a complete psychopath on the pitch and gets into a lot more fights than he ought to in order to defend his generally much smaller teammates, including during the first Clasico of the 2010-11 season, when he sprinted a good forty yards outside his penalty area (and got yellow-carded for his trouble) to back up Andres in a fight with Cristiano Ronaldo. when Andres got injured right before the World Cup (Informe Robinson made a documentary about Spain at the 2010 World Cup; the relevant bit is translated here), Victor said afterward that it was one of the worst days of his life because of how awful it was for Andres; he walked off the pitch in tears and none of his teammates could do anything to help. and finally, because it warms the cockles of my black heart, little Andresito sticking up for Victor (who has kind of a not-great reputation, since he is hot-headed and tattooed and admittedly looks a bit like a skinhead):
I’ve been asked this question many times, but I always say the same thing. Víctor has an impressive look… for those who don’t know him. He’s a work of art, a magnificent and caring person like few others, but what happens is that you can’t judge anyone if you don’t know them, and sometimes people judge him without knowing him. For my part, I can only say that since we have known each other, and looking back through the years, he has never let me down.
they have been through everything together, every step of the way: depression, injuries, the terrible end of the Rijkaard era, the death of Dani Jarque. and they've won everything together too:four five Liga trophies, five Supercopas, and three Champions Leagues.
…when we finished the final at Wembley, I thought about those talks with Andres. The Final at Wembley was the greatest day, the most beautiful thing I’ve experienced. Not only because we won the Champions League, but also because of the rival and the stadium. And finally because Andres and I managed to fulfill our dream.
plus, you know. We travelled all around Spain on a coach and now we travel all around the world on planes. On the bus ride from the hotel to the stadium, I sat next to Victor Valdés – I always sit with him – and I told him that I would score, and that I’d dedicate the goal to him. Sometimes I say these things and they don’t come true, but… (he's not exaggerating, either. he really does always sit next to Victor.)
ughhhh I just love them so much!
annnnnd even more links. you know. if you're into that sort of thing.
anyone who's talked to me for long about Barcelona could tell you that I'm just a tiny bit obsessed with Victor Valdes and Andres Iniesta. they're both very quiet people so there's not a whole lot of resources that I've seen on them (remarkably, considering what a huge impact Iniesta in particular has made both at Barcelona and for Spain). however, by scrounging around the internet, I have uncovered a few awesome facts about them. first and foremost: they were roommates at La Masia in Andres' first year (he was twelve, Victor was fourteen), along with some other names you might know (Pepe Reina, Mikel Arteta, Thiago Motta anyone?). keep in mind that Andres was the most miserably homesick child imaginable when he moved to Barcelona from Albacete - he missed his parents and he cried for most of his first year away from home. there is a probably-untrue but alarming plausible anecdote about a reporter being told not to ask him about his family because it would make him cry.
there is not a whole lot of actual reason for me to be utterly convinced that Victor is still incredibly protective of Andres, but he used to look after Andres at the academy since he'd been there longer (Víctor took care of us and was great with us can I just) and he still sticks up for Andres in interviews. also, well. blind convictions are supposed to be baseless anyway. and in defense of my BFF OTP, there are a lot of small details floating around that support my conclusions. Victor and Andres have been on the same football team since they were at La Masia; they made Barça B at the same time, and were promoted to the first team at the same time as well. and they're perfectly happy to inform interviewers that they're best friends. Victor is apparently giving Andres parenting advice. ♥ (Victor has a son named Dylan; Andres' girlfriend was pregnant with their first daughter, Valeria, at the time of the interview.) when the shortlist for the 2010 Ballon d'Or came out (Xavi, Leo and Andres were the final three; Leo won in the end) Victor repeatedly said in interviews that he was happy for all of them but he wanted Andres to win because Andres is his little brother. Victor, bless his extremely bad-tempered soul, is a complete psychopath on the pitch and gets into a lot more fights than he ought to in order to defend his generally much smaller teammates, including during the first Clasico of the 2010-11 season, when he sprinted a good forty yards outside his penalty area (and got yellow-carded for his trouble) to back up Andres in a fight with Cristiano Ronaldo. when Andres got injured right before the World Cup (Informe Robinson made a documentary about Spain at the 2010 World Cup; the relevant bit is translated here), Victor said afterward that it was one of the worst days of his life because of how awful it was for Andres; he walked off the pitch in tears and none of his teammates could do anything to help. and finally, because it warms the cockles of my black heart, little Andresito sticking up for Victor (who has kind of a not-great reputation, since he is hot-headed and tattooed and admittedly looks a bit like a skinhead):
I’ve been asked this question many times, but I always say the same thing. Víctor has an impressive look… for those who don’t know him. He’s a work of art, a magnificent and caring person like few others, but what happens is that you can’t judge anyone if you don’t know them, and sometimes people judge him without knowing him. For my part, I can only say that since we have known each other, and looking back through the years, he has never let me down.
they have been through everything together, every step of the way: depression, injuries, the terrible end of the Rijkaard era, the death of Dani Jarque. and they've won everything together too:
…when we finished the final at Wembley, I thought about those talks with Andres. The Final at Wembley was the greatest day, the most beautiful thing I’ve experienced. Not only because we won the Champions League, but also because of the rival and the stadium. And finally because Andres and I managed to fulfill our dream.
plus, you know. We travelled all around Spain on a coach and now we travel all around the world on planes. On the bus ride from the hotel to the stadium, I sat next to Victor Valdés – I always sit with him – and I told him that I would score, and that I’d dedicate the goal to him. Sometimes I say these things and they don’t come true, but… (he's not exaggerating, either. he really does always sit next to Victor.)
ughhhh I just love them so much!
annnnnd even more links. you know. if you're into that sort of thing.
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no subject
Date: 2011-08-21 05:21 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2011-08-21 05:30 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2011-08-21 05:32 pm (UTC)I´ve added the entry to memories, because i want to be able to come back, and come back to read about these boys.
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Date: 2011-08-21 05:40 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2011-08-21 05:32 pm (UTC)[i feel that i MUST friend you, do you think that's acceptable?]
i think they're PERFECT together as people, Andres is shy and friendly looking, Victor is fiery and menacing looking.
[but it is Anders who's the ghostface killah and VV is the absolute sweetheart]
up until The Second Year of Shaving his Head, Victor Valdes was my biggest craziest deepest Barca crush and he had been so since one presscon i saw of him probs in 2003.
and spot on with psychopath haha, my bff and i say VV is Mr. Blonde from Reservoir Dogs.
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Date: 2011-08-21 05:38 pm (UTC)I MISS VICTOR'S TEEN IDOL HAIRCUT. I MISS IT A LOT. but presumably Andres doesn't feel as bad about going bald at an early age when he's got Victor's smooth scalp to look forward to?
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Date: 2011-08-21 05:37 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2011-08-21 05:43 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2011-08-21 05:58 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2011-08-21 05:59 pm (UTC)hellz yeah he is, andres. you got good eyes, son!
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Date: 2011-08-21 06:00 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2011-08-21 06:09 pm (UTC)(no subject)
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Date: 2011-08-21 06:45 pm (UTC)They are beyond perfect. Words cannot even fully capture the sheer beauty that is their epic friendship (though you did a pretty fricken good job). :)
I'm not even sure if it's possible to write these two with full effectiveness, they're just so real...
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Date: 2011-08-21 09:08 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2011-08-21 06:53 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2011-08-21 09:02 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2011-08-21 08:45 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2011-08-21 09:02 pm (UTC)(no subject)
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Date: 2011-08-22 12:03 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2011-08-22 12:28 am (UTC)(no subject)
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Date: 2011-08-22 12:56 am (UTC)can we just talk for a minute about how someone who is notoriously shy is coming out with what amounts to "gtfo he is a work of art bitches" and "we are inseperable also i score goals for him, so."
ahhhhhh
victor and his never ending "with my brother Andres!" at the end of any sentence containing anything good will never cease to be a source of joy
no subject
Date: 2011-08-22 01:18 am (UTC)I KNOW. HIS FACEBOOK IS LARGELY USELESS BUT WHENEVER I SEE THE WORD "HERMANO" I KNOW I AM GOING TO BE MADE VERY HAPPY.
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Date: 2011-08-22 04:58 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2011-08-22 11:06 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2011-08-23 04:10 am (UTC)Fantastic post!
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Date: 2011-08-24 01:12 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2011-08-24 03:38 am (UTC)Seriously. My heart bursts.
Shallow: And Victor Valdes, do me. I cannot say that about Andresito because he's our Andresito. But Victor. UNF.
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Date: 2011-08-24 01:11 pm (UTC)lmao girl get in line
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Date: 2011-08-24 03:39 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2011-08-24 01:10 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2011-08-24 03:41 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2011-08-24 01:10 pm (UTC)(no subject)
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Date: 2011-08-24 03:44 am (UTC)me
die
andresito is my favourite player in the world right now, and to think that VV would help him with his homesickness when he had huge anxiety problems himself is just........sgdfghstjhsjtghgs
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Date: 2011-08-24 01:09 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2011-08-24 04:44 am (UTC)Thank you for the post. <3
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Date: 2011-08-24 01:06 pm (UTC)<3!
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Date: 2011-08-24 01:33 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2011-08-24 05:44 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2011-08-24 03:33 pm (UTC)"con mi hermano Andres!" makes me ;~; every single time.
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Date: 2011-08-24 05:44 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2011-08-24 08:13 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2011-08-25 03:17 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2011-08-31 08:15 am (UTC)precious post. XD
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Date: 2011-08-31 11:54 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2012-10-21 07:20 am (UTC)Congrats :D
And thanks so much for this brilliant post! I'm a bit in love with it :)
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Date: 2012-10-21 03:02 pm (UTC)haha thank you! I'm glad you enjoyed ;)
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Date: 2012-12-26 03:00 am (UTC)I had no idea about Valdes and Iniesta so this was so nice to read. Also taught maybe that there is more to Barca than swooning over Villa and getting ridiculously excited when Pique dedicates goals to Shakira.
But seriously. This is really sweet, and (photo of Bojan aside where I began clapping my hands together in delight like a demented seal) it was really nice to calmly read about two good guys who seem so wonderfully loyal to each other and go so far back.
So thank you so much for the lovely post, they're adorable lads. :)
Also someone needs to kidnap Victor Valdes and force him to grow out his hair again. I volunteer.
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Date: 2013-01-06 04:49 am (UTC)Victor's hair was so pretty :( come back, Victor's hair.
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