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Ivan Balli's career started with a contract for Real Madrid at the age of 11, but due to the distance from home, he decided to return and continue to the Barcelona academy. He later trained with Guardiola and the Catalans' stars at the time and, aware of the competition, he left for Portugal and France to start from scratch. In an interview for "El Mundo", the defender also talks about how he joined the Albanian National Team, the reason why and the good situation he is going through in these qualifiers.
Caldas de Malavela. Your story begins there…
A very small town near Girona. I started playing football when I was 4 years old and when I was 9 I went to Girona. I spent two years there and then I went to La Masia. I left home very early and now that I have children I think about it, I don't know if I would have let them leave so soon, but thanks to that step I now live with football.
What did your parents tell you?
It's something I had decided. Moreover, at the age of 11 and before I signed with Barca, I came to Madrid and signed the contract with Real Madrid. But after 4 days Barça called me and because of the proximity, because of the adaptation, I ended up there. I didn't know I was leaving home, to be honest.
How did you experience it?
Well, my city is just over an hour from Barcelona and my mother would 'run away' during the week to see me for an hour or two, more for her than for me (laughs). I lived there with my teammates and it was almost a camp. And then at the weekend I was with my parents. The change was not as sudden as if I had gone to Madrid and not seen my family for three months, which happens to many children.
Was it a good time?
At that time I liked watching football and being there, I liked Barça more, but today I like to watch Madrid, Barça... The more goals I see, the better.
In La Masi, even though you didn't play for the first team, you were still on the rotation?
I was having a good time. There were children of different ages who want to face the world... But I come from a family with my feet very much on the ground and I have never been that star, let's say. I have always been a hard worker and never had that media center that is given to others.
Why did you leave there?
I knew my reality. I knew that I had Dani Alves and Martin Montoja in front of me, I was aware that it was difficult for me and I was getting ready for an exit. What is true is that many of my friends debuted with the first team and I didn't and that frustrates you a bit.
Meanwhile, you developed a preparatory phase with Guardiola, Messi, Xavi, Iniesta...
Crazy. I thought, 'What am I doing here?' (Laughs). I remember one day I went down to eat and saw myself in the elevator with Pike, David Vijë... I was relaxing. Even on the trip when we had to get on the bus, I got on the back so I wouldn't take anyone's seat (laughs). When I got on it was Abidal who shouted: 'Come here'. And I did the whole preparatory phase next to him. It helped me a lot.
Then Portugal and France, how did you end up there?
Yes, to Aruka and Metci. I was at Barça B in the Second Division and I didn't want to continue in the same category. I saw it as a step backwards. And I went to Portugal because I was clear that I wanted to play and have continuity. And then Metci, a big club. I was very comfortable for four years.
Then back to Spain again…
Yes, that summer I had a bit of a bad time because they asked me to renew in France, but because of taxes I had a fight with the club there. I wanted to come to Spain, but it didn't happen. There were contacts but nothing was finalized and it took a long time. Until the sheik bought Almeria and I think I was the first signing. I didn't want to come to the Spanish Second Division because I knew how difficult it is to go up to La Liga, but well, in the end, being there got me into the Spanish market and Rajo Vajecano took me.
Do you feel at home here?
Yes, both in the locker room and in the club. It's all perfect. Iraola supported my arrival, I found connections with my teammates, with the fans, life in Madrid... I am satisfied.
Can you speak Albanian?
(Laughs). A little. Well, I was playing in France and I got a call. In these applications, "Where does your last name come from?" It seemed to me that there were many people in Albania and few in Spain. And on "Twitter" they sent me many messages in Albanian, I didn't understand. I was contacted by a person from the Federation of Albania and they told me to look for the connection with my father and such, we looked for letters and found the great-great-grandfather. They took my passport and now I have dual citizenship.
Is it more like a team, or is there really a feeling?
At first I saw it as an opportunity to play in the qualifiers because I thought it would open more windows for me to be in a better team. But now it's different. At first I was more selfish. While now we are 95% close to European qualification and we lack one point to reach.
Salvador Balliu is the mayor of Kaldas Malavela, what is it like to live with a political father?
He is the mayor of my town. He started helping, because he wanted to create a nursery, it appeared and until now. I am very much out of politics. As far as politics is concerned, I am not involved in anything, it is my father's business and I have not experienced it closely.
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