Circle of influence has become complete at Barcelona for Carles Puyol

If the Catalans were the only ones the central defender wanted to play for, he impressed all for 19 uninterrupted years at the club, writes Andy Mitten.

Carles Puyol started with Barcelona and may even retire as a true legend of the club in Spain. Lluis Gene / AFP

It was the fierce desire and will to win of Carles Puyol that made him stand out to Javed Nekounam.

The Iranian captain was a regular opponent of the Barcelona defender during his time at Osasuna in the Primera Liga and it is that, rather than the multitude of honours that the 33 year old has notched up in his 15 years at the club, that impresses him most.

“Carles Puyol was a player I’ve always strongly admired,” Nekounam said. “His presence on the pitch gave an extra motivational factor to all of his teammates.

“He is a fighter who would do anything for his team. He is a leader, who will lead his team into battle and do anything he can to win.

“I played against him many times when I was at Osasuna in Spain and learnt from him. I learned that you should always give 100 per cent and keep full concentration.

“He led by example. In one match at Osasuna, I saw him go for a ball and thought, ‘He has no chance of getting the ball’. He put his head before the boot of our players.

“He was so close to having a boot in his face, but he didn’t think of the consequences, he only thought of winning the ball. He won the ball.”

Puyol looked as he played, Barca’s assiduous combative captain with an unmistakable, almost medieval-looking torso.

He suffered 36 injuries over the years and recently they began to take their toll, slowing him and making recovery harder.

He has played in just five league games this season and decided to call time at Camp Nou this week by announcing he will leave at the end of the season, despite having a contract until 2016.

Puyol hails from the Pyrenean mountains of Catalonia, from the modest town of La Pobla de Segur, the son of a humble bread man. He always wanted to be a footballer but his parents advised against it.

He did not even have a preferred position and started as a goalkeeper before switching to striker after a back problem. He finally moved to defence and was picked up by Barca, who sent their scouts to the mountains.

La Pobla is a Barca stronghold.

Puyol, like everyone in his village is a ‘cule’ – the nickname for Barca fans.

“They are more than a club and they affect the mood of the people,” Puyol said. “Barca are the team which every Catalan child wants to play for. You see Barca on television from an early age and they influence you.”

That influence, that pull, was strong for Puyol.

He had trials with the club and joined them at 16.

Puyol thrived.

“The fans appreciate that I work my hardest all the time,” he said.

“I need no encouragement because I’ve always been a cule – I’ve never hidden that fact.”

Nineteen years later, he is still there, though his announcement on Tuesday means he is serving his last three months at the club.

With 593 first-team games since his debut in 1999, only Xavi has played more times than Puyol.

He won more trophies than he could have ever dreamed, even when he had broken into the first team of a troubled club in the early noughties.

Barca were a shambles until 2004, but when they came good under Frank Rijkaard they came very good.

Under Rijkaard, Pep Guardiola and Tito Vilanova, Puyol would win six league titles, three Uefa Champions Leagues, two Spanish Cups and two World Club Cups. He also made 100 appearances for Spain, winning the Euros in 2008 and the World Cup in 2010. He was a proud Catalan but equally proud to represent Spain.

Puyol does not know what he will do next. He always said it was his dream to play for Barca and retire at the club. His dream is about to come true.

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