The two-time Champions League winner talks practising with Leo, aggro with Pep and playing in five separate World Cups
Interview Dani Gil
RAFAEL MARQUEZ
You started out at Atlas, one of the biggest clubs in Mexico. How did that come about?
It all happened very fast. When I was 14 I left Zamora, my home town, and went to Atlas, who’d scouted me playing a local game. At 17, I was given the chance to make my debut in the first division.
In 1999, you moved to Monaco in Ligue 1. Did you notice a huge step up in quality?
I’d been to Europe a few times and knew the teams. It was clear to me that the next step was to prove myself there. A call came from Monaco and I didn’t think twice. The leap in quality was obvious, but I wasn’t surprised as I’d expected it to be a challenge.
You won Ligue 1 in your first season, so it looked like you adapted pretty quickly…
I was surrounded by great players – Fabien Barthez, Ludovic Giuly, David Trezeguet... it was a good team and I fitted in very quickly. I have special memories of my time there because we won the championship.
You became the first Mexican to represent Barcelona after making the move in 2003. That must have been exciting for football fans back in your homeland…
Many people still remind me today that they went from supporting Real Madrid to Barça. Before I joined Barça, a lot of Mexicans were Real Madrid fans because of Hugo Sanchez, a legendary forward who represented Real in the 1980s. I was a Real supporter too when I was a kid, but when I came to Barça, many changed their allegiances.
What was their dressing room like to join?
There were several Dutch lads: Phillip Cocu, Patrick Kluivert, Marc Overmars and Michael Reiziger. They were all excellent players and personalities. Barça’s youth team at the time was special, and it was amazing to see kids like Lionel Messi and Andres Iniesta coming through. Then there were leaders like Carles Puyol, Xavi and Thiago Motta – to be part of that group was a dream come true.
Just how special was Ronaldinho?
We arrived in the same summer! He changed the face of Barcelona with his talent and his eternal smile. He was a magician disguised as a footballer. It’s also true that he enjoyed a night out! He lived life to the full, but no one can reproach him for his lifestyle because he was brilliant every week.
Can you remember Messi’s first training session?
We already knew who he was because there’d been a lot of talk about him in the youth teams. Barça B’s coaches said he wa
