Rivaldo (Recife, 1972), former Barcelona player and current Betfair ambassador, will not miss this Saturday’s Clásico at the Santiago Bernabéu. A game in which he was the protagonist for many years and in which he feels very lucky to have played them. He assures that in these games there is never a favorite, but admits that Barcelona is very strong. And he does not give importance to Mbappé’s weak start. He knows that his performance will increase in a short time.
What memories do you have of the Classics?
Very good memories, in both fields. It’s always good to play these games. At the Bernabéu the Madrid fan always pressures and fights with the Barcelona players. It is an impressive match that is talked about all week. I have been lucky enough to play these Classics. In that sense I feel privileged to face Madrid, all the great players want to do it.
Do you remember the goal that was disallowed and that would have meant the victory and a hat-trick with your signature?
Yes, because it would have been a spectacular game for Rivaldo scoring three goals against Madrid at the Bernabéu. The referee annulled the goal and I was very sad and at the same time angry because we would have won there. The goal was legal, the ball had touched Helguera and the referee ruled offside. With the VAR they would have given it to me, but the referees are wrong.
How do you see this Classic?
In these games there are no favorites, you don’t know what will happen. Barcelona is now doing well and is first in LaLiga; Madrid is three points away, but they are playing at home. Barcelona will want to play their game and look for a victory away from home. A win would be very good for them and also for the coach, who would win his first game against Madrid. But the merengue team is strong, they are champions of the Champions League and LaLiga. It is not easy to beat Madrid there.
Rivaldo poses in Barcelona.
What’s wrong with Mbappé that he hasn’t just started?
Sometimes it takes a while to adapt. But Kylian is a great player and he is sure to make history in Madrid. He is very good and has already scored several goals. He is still not the Mbappé that all fans would like, but we must keep in mind that we are at the beginning and he has just arrived. He will be a very important player and will go down in the history of Madrid.
It’s not just Mbappé, Madrid is having a hard time getting started in the League. Because?
At times things don’t go well. The League has started right now and there is a lot left to play. The important thing is not this moment, but the end. Madrid always reaches the final stretch fighting to be champion of everything. Ancelotti is a great coach who knows how to do things very well.
Lamine Yamal has everything to become the best player in the world
Do you think Lamine Yamal can become the new Messi?
He’s impressive, he’s still a 17-year-old kid and he’s already doing very good things. I don’t know if he’s going to be a Messi, it’s a very difficult comparison because of everything the Argentine did at the club. Lamine has everything to be the best in the world and win many titles with Barcelona. I like him a lot, he plays with joy and enjoys football. And it makes the fans enjoy it.
Do you have to take care of him in a special way?
It is essential to take care of him. He is still a kid, there is a lot of talk about him in the press and he knows that he is important. You have to be very intelligent because football changes you a lot. You must have people by your side who talk to you and help you in your career so that you can be the best in the world.
Don’t you get the feeling that he is a very mature person, both on and off the field of play?
He looks older. From the way he plays you would say that he is 25 or 26 years old. It seems that he has been playing for a long time and that he already had that experience of an older footballer. He will go very far because he plays very well, both for Barcelona and for the national team where he can do very well in the World Cup.
Barcelona is amazed by Raphinha, what is the reason for the change in this player?
Football is often like that. In a season things don’t go well for you, you don’t have the coach’s confidence, you play in a position that is not yours, you go to the bench… Without the coach’s support it is very complicated. But now another has arrived who is doing a good job and is giving him that confidence. Raphinha can do something very important within the club.
Vinicius deserves the Ballon d’Or, but he must change his attitude towards referees and rivals
Do you think Vinicius deserves to be awarded the Ballon d’Or?
It is always important when you perform like Vinicius has done. Surely he hopes to win the Ballon d’Or for everything he did in the Champions League and the League with Madrid, even if things did not go well in the national team. For me, Vinicius is the favorite to win the Ballon d’Or.
Rivaldo, former Barcelona player.
Don’t you think that it bothers Vinicius to protest so much to the referees and fight with his rivals?
It’s not a good attitude. Vinicius is an impressive player because he makes the difference for Madrid. But he is still very young and can change. In fact, he must change those attitudes with referees and players. He is a footballer who receives a lot of kicks, but messing with rivals and not stopping talking to the referees is not good. But this attitude is going to change because Vinicius is intelligent. What happens is that he is a kid and there are moments in a game when his head gets hot and he loses control. He has changed his football because when he arrived at Madrid no one thought that one day he would be the best in the world. He learned to score goals in Champions League finals, and this attitude of fighting with referees or rivals is going to change.
How far can Endrick go?
It’s good. He has gone to a club that is always fighting to be champion where he will be able to play and score goals. He is young and has a great future.
They were wrong to bring in Vitor Roque in December; I needed a good preseason
Why didn’t Vitor Roque work for Barça?
They made a mistake by bringing him in mid-season. I had to have a good preseason and that in December is impossible. He didn’t have Xavi’s confidence, he played little. I hope he does well at Betis and can play good games, because he is very good and knows how to score goals. The thing is that it didn’t come at a good time, plus Barcelona’s situation wasn’t good and things didn’t go well.
Does Barça have a level?
Surely in the future yes. Now he is touched by what has happened and should have a good season at Betis.
He says he’s touched. Do you think he is hurt with Barcelona?
It is a change, but Barcelona is Barcelona. If you have a good season in another team, any player likes returning to Barça. And if he has a good year he will return with greater confidence and will be able to succeed at the Camp Nou.
Rodrygo, Courtois, Ter Stegen, Araujo and many more. Are you worried about so many injuries?
If there were fewer games there would surely be fewer injuries. I don’t know if this is going to change because when I was 20 years old it was already said that it would reduce. And now every year that passes there is a new competition. There are many games and it is easier to get injured that way.
Flick is doing very well, but if he loses two games criticism will come although he has experience and will be prepared if this happens
Is business eating sport?
Football has been a business for a long time. Money and more money. Players are no longer looked at so they can rest and play better. It has become a business with preseasons in countries that make a lot of money. Football has changed and the players have no choice but to understand that football has changed.
What did you think of Flick’s arrival?
He is doing very well in the League, giving opportunities to youth players. I hope it continues like this. In football and in Barça if you win everything goes well, but otherwise comes pressure from the press. It is like this, not only in Barcelona. It’s on all teams. If it starts to go badly and you lose two games, criticism will come, but Flick has experience and knows that this is the case. Surely you are prepared in case this moment comes. Now he is fine, he does very good work and I hope he can get titles.
