From Barcelona to Como, Meet Alex Valle

Alex Valle is a product of one of football’s most iconic academies—La Masia. A dynamic left-back he has honed his craft at Barcelona since childhood, rising through the ranks with the same tactical intelligence and technical precision that the club is known for. After gaining experience on loan playing in the Spanish 2nd Division he moved to Celtic Park in Glasgow at the start of this season where he played 11 league games, three cup games and five Champions League matches. He now finds himself at Como, bringing with him the discipline of La Masia and a fresh hunger to make his mark in Italy. Blu sat down with him to see how he was settling in.

Alex Valle didn’t arrive in Como unprepared. He had heard the hype. “A lot of people had spoken highly of this place, and me too, I only have good things to say about it. I’ve been here for three or four weeks so far and everything is wonderful, both in football and in my personal life.”

“I am very happy, I feel comfortable here and also, last week’s victory (against Napoli) made the whole team very happy. We are all very close with one another, confident in ourselves and eager to keep going and do well.”

Valle’s footballing journey started early—first with futsal, then shifting to the full-sized pitch. “I started playing futsal, then switched to football on grass, as they call it nowadays. Let’s say football with 11 players is my favorite though. My journey was good, step by step. I played for a team, San Gabriel, I was there for a year. Then, I competed in the leagues with lots of great teams before I moved to Barcelona.”

It’s no surprise, then, that the team he supports is the one that shaped him. “Barcelona is obviously the team I support the most and my favorite player, the one I consider an idol and that is very personal to me, is Jordi Alba.”

Off the pitch, Valle is a self-proclaimed all-around sports guy. “I like all sports in general. I have to say that I am a sporty person and if I have to choose one, I’d say padel.” But football is his first love, and with it comes his own matchday rituals. “Yes, I am superstitious so I actually do a lot of things. One of them is that right when entering the pitch, for example, I always walk in with my right foot.”

His career has had its influences, but none more than his father. “On a personal level, I’d say my father. He’s a football lover and I think he has influenced me since I was a kid. He always played with me and supported me. As I get older, he’s always been there.”

Outside of football, Valle enjoys the simple things. “I like spending time with my family, with my girlfriend, and with friends. I think when you have a life that is so far away from home, you value your time more with them.”

If he hadn’t been a footballer? “I can’t tell you right now. I wanted to be a teacher when I was a child but now it’s hard to say.”

TV shows? He’s got a Spanish classic in mind. “Well, maybe here in Italy it’s not very famous but in Spain, it’s a classic and it’s called La que se avecina. It’s an important part of Spanish culture.”

Music-wise, his genre?. “My favorite is probably reggaeton, it’s what I usually listen to”

If he could offer advice to his younger self? “Well, I would have encouraged myself to continue working hard which might be difficult but it ends up being worth it.” And the best advice he’s received? “The best advice I’ve ever been given is to enjoy it all. And sometimes I don’t have to overthink so much and just enjoy it.”

Before joining Como, had he been to Lake Como?. “No, never… but the lake is very beautiful and also there’s a funicular which I think goes up to the top, I would love to see the views up there.”

If he could invite three people over for dinner? “I don’t know, I would probably invite a friend or my girlfriend. Definitely some close friends from home. Or my parents if they could come, for example. And, being in Italy, we’d probably eat some pasta or pizza.”

He’s known for his skills on the pitch, but what’s he secretly good at? “I used to be good at math when I was a kid but now well, we’d have to find out. I’m a bit of a geek, I know the capitals of a lot of countries but please don’t ask me now!”

Growing up in La Masia was a privilege, and Valle knows it. “It was a privilege, a total privilege. I know that millions of children around the world would like to be in La Masia and grow up with it. It is very clear to me that because of that part of my life, I am privileged. I think, the way we are trained there, you don’t get it anywhere else.”

And now, having come up through Barcelona’s famed academy, he’s being coached by another Barca legend, Cesc Fabregas. “Well, it’s a luxury. I think he has lived an incredible and brilliant football era. There is nothing more to say. Everyone knows the football knowledge he possesses and it’s very clear what he has in mind and it’s reflected on the pitch as well as on how we play.”