On Tuesday, former Barcelona prodigy Bojan Krkic announced his retirement from professional football at the age of 32. Krkic, who joined Barcelona’s famed La Masia academy at the age of nine, made his debut for the Catalan giants aged just 17 in 2007.
Krkic quickly established himself as one of the most promising young players in Europe, and was tipped to become one of the best players in the world. He scored 12 goals in his first full season with Barcelona, and was part of the team that won the 2008/09 Champions League.
However, Krkic’s career failed to reach its potential. After leaving Barcelona in 2011, he had spells at Roma, AC Milan, Ajax, Stoke City, Mainz and Alaves, but never managed to recapture the form he showed at Barcelona. He scored just three goals in his last four seasons in Spain’s top flight.
Despite his failure to reach the heights expected of him, Krkic will be remembered fondly by Barcelona fans. He was part of a golden generation of players that included Lionel Messi, Xavi and Andres Iniesta, and was the youngest player ever to represent Barcelona in a competitive match.
Krkic’s retirement marks the end of an era for Barcelona. He was one of the last remaining links to their golden period of success in the late 2000s and early 2010s, and his departure signals a new era for the club.
Krkic’s career may not have lived up to expectations, but he will always be remembered as one of the most talented players to emerge from Barcelona’s La Masia academy. His retirement marks the end of an era for Barcelona and their fans, and he will be fondly remembered for his contribution to the club’s success.
