Kings unveil the ‘pirate’ who roomed with Messi

Covering his left eye with one hand and punching the air with the right, Argentinian striker Hernan Barcos introduced himself to Bashundhara Kings fans with his trademark pirate celebration on the big stage under open skies as the Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) champions introduced their new recruit at the under-construction Bashundhara Sports Complex in the Bashundhara Residential Area yesterday.

Although it is a traditional practice in countries such as Spain, the introduction of a foreign player was quite a unique sight in Bangladesh because no Bangladeshi club had introduced a player in such way before.

Bashundhara Kings made a big stage on their green practice ground with an impressive digital backdrop as numerous fans, all wearing the number 28 allotted to Barcos -- waited. Finally, after the introduction of four other foreigners who already played the Federation Cup this season, the 6ft 2in Barcos appeared in a black and grey jacket and blue jeans.

The 35-year-old, who famously shared a dressing room with star Lionel Messi during his five-match international career, signed a 10-month contract that will allow him to play in the AFC Cup and the second phase of the BPL. And he was eager to unleash his trademark celebration on the field to bring joy to fans and the club.

“Forget about the number of goals I want to score. I want to make Bashundhara champions in the group stage of the AFC Cup and the Bangladesh Premier League,” Barcos said, ponytail flowing.

He also told the tale of his trademark pirate celebration, with coach Oscar Bruzon acting as a translator.

“The pirate celebration started because of my surname. Barcos means ship in Spanish and ships are related to pirates. I am really excited to start celebrating goals with the pirate celebration. Although a very challenging competition is ahead, I want to start the pirate celebration not only for me, but also for the team and fans.

“As a striker, I want to score. But the most important thing is that I want to play as a member of the team and understand the players. At the moment we are all the same. The important thing is success,” added Barcos.

Barcos had played in 10 different counties and also had offers from clubs in Brazil and Argentina, but says he chose Bangladesh because as a “personal challenge”.

Eventually, the conversation shifted to his more illustrious national teammate and Barcos was more than happy to speak about what would be an unforgettable moment for any player: sharing a pitch with Messi.

“Playing with Lionel Messi is the biggest achievement and something every professional desires. I felt proud to have the opportunity to firstly play with the national team and secondly, with the player who is considered the best in the world.

“I really enjoyed the time I played with Messi. Those days were great because the conditions were different and I had to understand them and my game improved. Playing with Messi was an experience I can never forget,” said Barcos, who understandably chose his compatriot over Cristiano Ronaldo when the now-monotonous comparison was drawn.

“Both players are completely different and they are both big stars, but if you ask me to choose one, I will choose Messi.”