FCBARCELONA.CAT

22.05.2010 12:35

Villa should feel at home

Edgar Fornós

David Villa will be coming to team where he already knows a large number of his future team mates, either from international duty or from different publicity spots, something that’s bound to help him settle into the club quickly.

Villa will be travelling to South Africa this summer with Puyol, Xavi, Iniesta, Sergio and Víctor Valdes, who he also knows from Spanish Under-21 duty. He was at Zaragoza with Milito and has taken part in a number of publicity acts with Messi, who is sponsored by the same sports outfitting company.

Future teammates’ support

In his press conference on Friday, Villa expressed his satisfaction with the support he’d received from his future teammates ahead of his signing: “I’m lucky to know a number of players here and I am good friends with some of them. I’ve felt very good about the support I’ve got from them, even before I signed and I’m very grateful to them for that”.

European Champions

One of Villa’s most memorable, moments as a player was alongside Carles Puyol, Xavi Hernández and Andrés Iniesta when Spain won the European Championships in Austria and Switzerland in 2008. Villa was the tournament’s leading scorer with 4 goals.

Whilst at Zaragoza, Villa and Milito won the 2003/04 Spanish Cup under ex-Barca man Victor Muñoz, beating Real Madrid at the Olympic Stadium in Montjuic. The two played one more season together until Villa moved to Valencia.