“Ramos always names me because of the war I gave him …”

David Barral (10-5-1983, 38 years old, San Fernando, Cádiz) hurries his last blows as a footballer in Madrid’s Doge Internacional, who plays in the First RFEF. But his extensive sports career provides plenty of anecdotes. The best ones are told in this interview with AS.

Why did you sign up for the International Doge?

I was in Madrid, with my family, and looking for equipment, and with my age (38 years old in May) and all the laps that I have taken in Spain and abroad, I decided to stay close to my own and accept the offer of the Dux Internacional, a very familiar club whose characteristics suit what I was looking for.

Your experience is abundant and, beyond your age, didn’t you have more offers?

Not many, but I did have. It is true that the 38 years that I am perhaps a handicap, although I feel very well physically and want to continue fighting.

What did you think when you learned that your hiring was going to be the first in history made with cryptocurrencies?

It is a circumstance that was proposed to me, that my signing was going to be sponsored by the company that sponsors the club with the idea of ​​attracting attention and it seems that it had a great impact.

And do you also charge in cryptocurrencies?

No, no (laughs), it’s by normal bank transfer.

What do you hope to achieve at the International Doge?

Find happiness and retire in a humble family team, where I am valued, but I know that the end is near, although I still do not see it, because the injuries are respecting me, the team is working and I still feel very valid .

The International Doge is in the 1st RFEF, which was previously the Second B. What opinion do you have of the new restructuring that the Federation has put in place since last year?

I think that before there was a very pronounced jump between Second B and Second and I believe that now between 1st RFEF and Second the difference is less pronounced, it is a very powerful League.

You were trained in teams from San Fernando de Cádiz and in 2002 Real Madrid signed you for their team then C. How did you assume that change, which must have been abrupt?

Yes, it was, because I was a neighborhood boy who had to make the leap to the capital. Things were coming out for me, it’s true, and I think that my attitude, the one I’ve had since I’ve been a professional, Madrid liked, they told me they were following me, until they saw the opportunity to sign me for their Third Division team .

You left on loan and returned to Castilla in 2006, where you got promoted to Second. Did you ever think that you would make a career at Madrid?

That was my illusion, and the rest, look at who I coincided with: Borja Valero, Jurado, De la Red, Javi García, Negredo, Soldado … We all wanted to play in the first team, but we were many and the chances were minimal, so we were prepared to assume that football did not end in Madrid.

Did you ever train with the first squad?

Yes, practically a whole year, because he trained me at Castilla López Caro and when they fired Luxembourg, he went up to the first team. He liked me and knew about my performance, that’s why he gave me the opportunity to train together with the Galacticos, even though I played with Castilla.

What was it like to train with the Galactics?

Well, we would change in the Castilla dressing room, we did not coincide with them, although on the field we enjoyed and learned from them. But, although we had humility, we did not diminish ourselves, on the contrary.

And did they listen to you, did they involve you?

Yes. I had a good relationship, among others, with Sergio Ramos. And they corrected us, in fact, I remember that Zidane in a play that I made told me: ‘If you make that spectacular play, you have to finish it’, because I passed it back so that another teammate could finish it off. I can always boast of having trained with the Galactics.

Of those Castilla or Madrid C squads, which player or players did you think would go far and fell by the wayside?

Well, look, I had a teammate named Diego León who stood out a lot in all the lower categories of Madrid and I don’t know why he didn’t become a professional. It was a case that has always surprised me.

Since Sporting, where you have been for six years, you have been a nomad. Do you consider yourself a restless ass in soccer?

But it is that I would have liked to be 10 or 12 years in the same team, but due to sporting circumstances or that I was crossing an irreplaceable contract I was changing every little bit.

Where have you been happiest playing soccer?

At Sporting and at Levante.

Turkey, United Arab Emirates, Cyprus or Japan?

Each site has its positives. For example, in Japan soccer is very good and I really enjoyed it. In Dubai, financially very well, but football is less professional and there is practically no hobby. In Cyprus, the quality of life is very acceptable and in Turkey, the competition is very strong.

Where did you experience the biggest culture shock?

In Japan, without a doubt, because of the methodology, the schedules, the food, the way of life in general, but if I had to repeat, I would do it there.

You have scored many goals in your extensive career, but if you had to choose one, for significance, for aesthetics, which one would you choose?

For beauty, the one that I scored for Barcelona in the Molinón: it was after a spectacular play of power, driving, dribbling and finishing. For significance, I marked some that helped some permanence, but it was not so beautiful.

What is the greatest bitterness you have suffered in your career?

Bitterness, none, but it is true that in Turkey I had a hard time when in a clash with Drogba they took me to the hospital. The descents are always traumatic, but fortunately I have never experienced any football tragedy.

Are you satisfied with the career you have done or did you expect more?

No, I feel very satisfied, although it is true that I have a thorn in the face of not having been able to go to the National Team. But it is true that at that time it was difficult because there were Raúl, Fernando Torres, Villa, Morientes… players that it was impossible not to summon them. Also, before perhaps there were not as many opportunities as now.

Was the possibility of going to the National Team ever close?

Yes very close. In fact, I remember that at a press conference Del Bosque cited me as an example of players who deserved to be called up, but because of the great competition for the front, it was very difficult.

You have been playing soccer for many years. Are you of the idea that it has evolved a lot and for the better or do you think that before was more pure?

I have lived in both and now I miss aspects of football from before, where there was more contact. Before, I think that footballers took less time to forge ourselves, to become stronger. Now I think that the kids that come out of the quarries are weaker. It would be ideal that the footballers of today had a perhaps more competitive character. Look, a few days ago I saw a couple of Maradona documentaries and they kicked him a lot, you can’t see that now.

You too have been beaten. What is the toughest defender that has marked you?

Buff! There have been a few: Ramos, Pepe, Ayala, Amorebieta, Aitor Ocio… but I didn’t wrinkle, I went to the crash without fear. Surely all of them remember me, in fact, Sergio Ramos whenever they ask him which are the strikers who have given him the most war, he always names me.

The question of the moment: If you had to sign a striker, who would you choose: Mbappé or Haaland?

I have not seen Haaland so much, but I stay with Mbappé.

Hey, you’ll be 39 years old in May. Have you decided what you are going to do when you hang up your boots?

Yes, I want to be a coach, I have the titles and for a few years I have already been internalizing and absorbing concepts for when I have the opportunity.

And when David Barral is coach, who will he get closer to: Simeone, Zidane, Guardiola, Klopp …?

What I have clear is that I will not forget the old school, because it is very valid, but I do not have a model to follow and I do bring together the best of each of them and of the coaches I have had.

Thank you very much for attending me.

Thank you.