Alejandro Balde remained the red face for Barcelona's Champions League collision with Atalanta and admitted that he had never heard of La Dea boss Gian Piero Gasperini.
Second place Barca is one of the two teams who have already guaranteed a place in the last 16 of the renewed competition of this season, with 18 points of their opening of seven games.
The Blaugrana is accompanied by seventh place Atalanta as the ruling Europa League champions all take points at Estadi Olimpic Lluis Company.
Gasperini led La Dea to their very first major European silverware in the past term of that Europa League triumph, while his side is in third place in the race A Crown in the race of this season.
Balde praised Atalanta, but was stunned when he was asked about the style of their boss during the Barca press conference for the competition.
“Atalanta are a great team, I think they have a great season in the Serie A,” he said reporters.
“And the other you said; Who was it? The player? I didn't hear who he was. Who is that? Don't know.'
When he was reminded, he laughed: “Oh, okay, the truth is that I had no idea. Well, I don't know, I think it's good.”
Barca has won seven of their last eight Champions League matches and scored 25 goals en route.
Although Atalanta has won all three of their away games in the competition of this season, making them one of the two parties to achieve that performance, together with League Phase Leaders Liverpool.
The Champions League pic.twitter.com/1rgjiccfja
– FC Barcelona (@fcbarcelona) January 29, 2025
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