If he had not decided to terminate his contract by mutual agreement at the end of the 2022-23 season, Jordi Alba could still have been at Barcelona. The Catalan giants probably wouldn’t have minded this given their struggles at left back, but sadly the 35-year-old has spent the last 18 months at Inter Miami.
Speaking to the Offsiders podcast (via Marca), Alba reflected on his decision to leave Barcelona, which he does not regret.
“I didn’t end up playing much anymore, I didn’t play for a season except for two months when a lot of people were injured and I played very well, and I went to the World Cup. I wasn’t planning on leaving Barcelona because I had a one-year contract plus an optional year. For me the easiest thing was to stay at Barcelona.
“In the end when I decided to take the step, and I don’t regret it, I think I did the best I could. That season you saw that Jordi who did not play and helped his teammates. The environment supported me more. But I did the same. That year was not easy because I spent more time without playing than I could have played. I played a good game and then I didn’t play for three games. I decided at the end of the season. The easiest thing was to say that I was staying in Barcelona with my family. But being on the bench… It was also good for the club. I left happy.”
Alba was also asked about the toughest opponent he faced during his career, and although Ángel Di María was named, he also made a rather surprising decision in his Valencia days.
“They always ask me, but you won’t even know who it is. It was in the season that I started playing as a winger. I remember that it was sunny in Mestalla… and Racing de Santander came. His name was Kennedy and he didn’t have much hair… I had a terrible time.
“And then, being at a good level, I think Di María was the worst. Di María at Real Madrid was spectacular, very good, not only when it came to attacking, but also defending, he didn’t stop. He’s a year older than me and he’s still running. He is a player that I have always liked a lot.”