Former Spanish footballer Carles Puyol heaped praise on Jorge "Magical" Gonzalez, calling him a phenomenon during a press conference held this Friday in San Salvador.

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The legendary Barcelona defender is in El Salvador along with other world football stars to play in the legends match between Barcelona and Real Madrid, which will be held at the National Stadium that bears the name of the legendary Salvadoran player.

“It will be a pleasure to play with him, to share this experience with him,” Puyol told the media, recalling that he already had the opportunity to face him in a friendly in 2018. “He will help us have a good match. He was phenomenal. It was a pleasure to play with him; I don't know what his physical condition is, but I'm sure his quality is very high,” added the Catalan, who captained Barcelona and won the World Cup with Spain in 2010.

The match, which brings together former players from both giants of Spanish football, marks the first time the legends classic has been played in Central America. Furthermore, it will be a special occasion to see "El Magico" (The Magician) once again wearing the Blaugrana jersey, the same one he wore in 1984 when he shared a locker room with Diego Maradona during a tour of the United States.

Pepe jokes about "El Magico's" lifestyle

The former Portuguese defender Pepe, who is also part of the Real Madrid Legends squad, didn't hold back in his comments about the Salvadoran star. Laughing, he recalled Gonzalez's off-field reputation.

"After doing some research, I've seen that many have said he liked the nightlife more than football," commented the former Real Madrid player. "I hope he doesn't come out tomorrow with so much enthusiasm against us and lets us win the match," he added, laughing.

Throughout his career, Jorge Gonzalez was recognized as much for his immense talent as for his bohemian lifestyle.Various anecdotes recount that the Salvadorans combined brilliant performances on the field with nights of partying that, on occasion, They stretched until dawn. However, his skill, charisma, and authenticity made him a living legend of Central American football.

A Classic of Legends to Remember

In addition to Puyol and Pepe, the press conference was attended by Yaya Toure and Iker Casillas, who also highlighted the importance of the event. "A classic is always a classic, even if we are former players. We want to defend our jersey and for people to enjoy a great spectacle," Puyol stated.