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One was boot-thief; another took almost five years from the age of six to convince Barça's youth coach – and is still at the club

This article is part of the Guardian's Euro 2012 Experts' Network, a co-operation between 16 of the best media organisations from the countries who have qualified for the finals in Poland and Ukraine. guardian.co.uk is running previews from two countries each day in the runup to the tournament kicking off on 8 June.

Gerard Piqué

Signed by Manchester United when he was young, Piqué soon made friends with Ruud van Nistelrooy. "Congratulations on your wedding," said the then reserve-team player to the Dutch footballer as soon as he met him. The striker, amazed at the boy's front, smiled, shook his hand and invited him along to a training session.

But their friendship was forged on away trips, when Van Nistelrooy would go to Piqué's room for Spanish lessons and to chat about Spanish football and why Spain could not produce a winning team.

Having finished his lessons Van Nistelrooy went to Madrid but he left behind some boots with his name printed on them, in his locker. The next day Piqué, with the consent of the dressing room, took them home. And they are still there today.

David Silva

The passion for football of David Silva knows no bounds. This was discovered when he was just five years old, as a ballboy for Arguineguín, his hometown team, and a particularly hard shot broke one of his arms. Within two weeks, however, he was at the next match and took up his usual position.

Xabi Alonso

Alonso, the son of Periko who went to play for Real Sociedad and Barcelona, was educated in perfection. Perhaps he was marked for life by the punishment his mother imposed when he got a bad mark in a Spanish exam, banning him from touching a football. There are no records of bad manners or fights, nor high-sounding phrases or off-the-ball altercations. He prefers to keep things simple. So, six months after signing for Real Madrid he decided to leave his luxurious home in the suburbs to settle in the city centre and enjoy everyday life with the rest of society.

Xavi Hernández

A football genius and dressing-room author of Barça's nickname "The Machine", Xavi took his time to get to the club. It turns out that the then director of youth football, Oriol Tort, saw him at the age of six and was charmed by his football, but not convinced by his physique and stature. "He is very small, but you will sign him," said Xavi's father, also known as Joaquim, a former Sabadell player in the first division. It took almost five years to convince Tort but in July 1991, aged 11, Xavi scored three goals in his trial and joined the club. There he remains.

Jordi Quixano is a football writer at El País

Click here to read the tactical analysis of Spain

And click here to read the profile of Sergio Busquets Read More

هل تريد وضع المحتوى السابق فى موقعك او مدونتك مجانا؟؟
انسخ الكود التالى و ضعه فى موقعك او مدونتك.

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