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MARC BARTRAMARC BARTRA

LIFE STORYLIFE STORY

Marc Bartra was born in Sant Jaume Marc Bartra was born in Sant Jaume dels Domenys, Tarragona, Catalonia, dels Domenys, Tarragona, Catalonia, Spain the 15th January 1991.Spain the 15th January 1991.

He’s a spanish football player in F.C. He’s a spanish football player in F.C. Barcelona.Barcelona.

His position is central defense.His position is central defense.

He took his Primary Education in our He took his Primary Education in our school, “Els Quatre Vents”.school, “Els Quatre Vents”.

He was signed by Espanyol, another He was signed by Espanyol, another football club in Barcelona, in 2001.football club in Barcelona, in 2001.

When he was 11 years old, he When he was 11 years old, he started training in “La Masia”, the started training in “La Masia”, the F.C. Barcelona school.F.C. Barcelona school.

In February 2010, Pep Guardiola In February 2010, Pep Guardiola make him début in first division, make him début in first division, playing against Atlético de Madrid, playing against Atlético de Madrid, another spanish football team.another spanish football team.

In the 2010-2011 season, he scored In the 2010-2011 season, he scored his first goal with “Barça”, playing his first goal with “Barça”, playing against Málaga CF.against Málaga CF.

He played his first european match He played his first european match on the 23th October 2012.on the 23th October 2012.

In November 2012, Marc was In November 2012, Marc was awarded as the best defense in awarded as the best defense in second division in the 2011-12 second division in the 2011-12 season.season.

The 18th March 2014 he renews his The 18th March 2014 he renews his contract with F.C Barcelona until June contract with F.C Barcelona until June 2017.2017.

INTERVIEWINTERVIEW

Why did you decide you Why did you decide you wanted to play football?wanted to play football?

I had always seen my father playing I had always seen my father playing this sport. And once I started playing this sport. And once I started playing in the school playground with my in the school playground with my classmates and friends, I realized classmates and friends, I realized that football was my favourite sport.that football was my favourite sport.

How did you join F.C How did you join F.C Barcelona?Barcelona?

I started playing in Vendrell for 2 years. I started playing in Vendrell for 2 years. Then, I signed for “Espanyol”, after going Then, I signed for “Espanyol”, after going through some tests. My parents were a through some tests. My parents were a little bit afraid because of my studies, but I little bit afraid because of my studies, but I made a decision because I had always made a decision because I had always dreamt to play football professionally.dreamt to play football professionally.

One day, we played against Barça, they One day, we played against Barça, they were interested in me and they ask me to were interested in me and they ask me to join them.join them.

How old were you when you How old were you when you start living in “ La Masia” of F.C start living in “ La Masia” of F.C

Barcelona?Barcelona?

I was 17 years old. It couldn’t be I was 17 years old. It couldn’t be before because I could go and come before because I could go and come back everyday because it was only back everyday because it was only one hour by car. But in High School I one hour by car. But in High School I started living there.started living there.

How did you combine your How did you combine your training with the school training with the school homework and exams?homework and exams?

It was really complicated. I had to go It was really complicated. I had to go to Barcelona a lot of times and then I to Barcelona a lot of times and then I had to go back to Sant Jaume. had to go back to Sant Jaume. Nevertheless, I always tried to do my Nevertheless, I always tried to do my homework, even if it was late. I homework, even if it was late. I preferred to do them late than never.preferred to do them late than never.

What do you feel when you What do you feel when you think “I’m a Barça football think “I’m a Barça football

player”?player”?

I really appreciate it. It was my dream I really appreciate it. It was my dream since I was very young, I thought it since I was very young, I thought it was impossible. But when you work was impossible. But when you work and you make an effort you can and you make an effort you can reach your goals. You have also to reach your goals. You have also to take into account what the people take into account what the people who loves you say. Remember! The who loves you say. Remember! The most important thing is work and most important thing is work and effortt.effortt.

How do you feel when you How do you feel when you realize you are famous and realize you are famous and everybody is talking about everybody is talking about

you?you?It has been really ongoing and I have It has been really ongoing and I have

been able to assimilate it naturally. been able to assimilate it naturally. But, it’s true that there are some But, it’s true that there are some things that I used to do without things that I used to do without problems and that now I’m not able problems and that now I’m not able to, such as going to my village to, such as going to my village celebrations.celebrations.

So, being famous has advantages and So, being famous has advantages and disadvantages.disadvantages.

Who is the Barça football Who is the Barça football player with whom you have a player with whom you have a

better relationship?better relationship?

The great majority, because almost The great majority, because almost the 80% has gone through the same the 80% has gone through the same process I have. I have a better process I have. I have a better relationship with Sergi Roberto, Jordi relationship with Sergi Roberto, Jordi Alba…With Piqué and Busquets too. Alba…With Piqué and Busquets too. All of them have helped me a lot. All of them have helped me a lot.

How much do you earn?How much do you earn?

Playing football you earn a lot of Playing football you earn a lot of money, but it’s important to study money, but it’s important to study too, because football can finish and too, because football can finish and you should have another way to you should have another way to make your living.make your living.

How did you feel when Tito How did you feel when Tito Vilanova died?Vilanova died?

We were all really sad, because since I We were all really sad, because since I joined Barça he was there. He has joined Barça he was there. He has been really close to us, he has given been really close to us, he has given us lots of advices, so it has been us lots of advices, so it has been really hard. Evenmore, in a very really hard. Evenmore, in a very important moment of the season.important moment of the season.

Who is your favourite football Who is your favourite football coach?coach?

Guardiola, because he is really good at Guardiola, because he is really good at his job and he really knows how to his job and he really knows how to connect with the players. Luis connect with the players. Luis Enrique too.Enrique too.

How many players are there How many players are there now in Barça?now in Barça?

Twenty-five in team, but the calls are Twenty-five in team, but the calls are for eighteen.for eighteen.

What do you think about the What do you think about the moment in which Gareth Bale moment in which Gareth Bale

passed you?passed you?

Sometimes you have to accept that Sometimes you have to accept that there are some players who are there are some players who are faster than you. It was at the last faster than you. It was at the last minutes of the match and I was minutes of the match and I was really tired.really tired.

He is a really good football player.He is a really good football player.

Are you going to play with the Are you going to play with the national team?national team?

I made my début. Nevertheless I can’t I made my début. Nevertheless I can’t participate in the World Cup because participate in the World Cup because I’m too young. But, it’s one of my I’m too young. But, it’s one of my aims.aims.

Why Èric Bartra, your brother, Why Èric Bartra, your brother, is not playing in Barça too?is not playing in Barça too?

It’s really complicated. He’s really It’s really complicated. He’s really good at playing football, but you good at playing football, but you must also be lucky. You must be must also be lucky. You must be really prepared, and injuries are not really prepared, and injuries are not good at this situations.good at this situations.

Were you at ease in “Els Were you at ease in “Els Quatre Vents” school?Quatre Vents” school?

Yes, a lot. I remember that the Yes, a lot. I remember that the atmosphere was really good.atmosphere was really good.

And what do you remember And what do you remember the most of school?the most of school?

The manager Sagrari’s scolds…no, it’s The manager Sagrari’s scolds…no, it’s a joke. When I was learning Science a joke. When I was learning Science with Anna and History with Sagrari.with Anna and History with Sagrari.

““You must play with sportsmanship You must play with sportsmanship and pay attention to what the adults and pay attention to what the adults tell you”.tell you”.

Marc BartraMarc Bartra