Ivan de la Pena: 1995-1998
Appearances: 81 / Goals: 11
A particularly disappointing case is the way things turned out for Pequeño Buddha at Barcelona. Disappointing because it’s always sad to see things turn sour for a player who came through the youth ranks and the ‘B’ side, especially after having made such an impact when starring in the phenomenally exciting 1996-97 Cup treble-winning side.
After being given his first-team debut by the legendary Johan Cruyff, it wasn’t until the next season, under new coach Bobby Robson, that De la Pena truly exploded, starring alongside Pep Guardiola, Luis Enrique, Luis Figo and forming a devastating relationship with the phenomenal Ronaldo during his one and only season at the Camp Nou. The genial midfielder and the Brazilian were almost telepathic on the pitch; teasing, tormenting and ultimately creating and scoring a lot of goals. They became so intrinsically linked that it’s no coincidence things fell apart dramatically for the playmaker when his go-to man left to join Inter Milan at the end of the season – the bow had lost its arrow.
Ronaldo’s exit certainly contributed to De la Pena’s loss of form but the biggest factor in his own departure was the arrival of his third coach (in three seasons) Louis van Gaal, who had no time for players not willing to toe the line of his strict, systematic approach. His fate was sealed after just one season under the Dutchman, although he did leave with a league winner’s medal. Upon the season’s conclusion Ronaldo requested that Inter sign the Little Buddha in the hope of rekindling their magical partnership in Italy, but the Milan giants chose little Buddhist, Roberto Baggio, instead.
