Aviv Lev Shoshan's departure from Barcelona is more surprising than Coutinho's, and for quite a few fans in Israel - even more painful.
After three years as content manager on the social networks of the Empire of Catalonia, the Israeli-Dutchman is leaving the place that is much more than a dream for football fans and professionals.
With very few people being given the right to follow the players so closely, practice after practice, game after game.
Shushan was on every pitch, with a cellphone in his hand and shorts, documenting every move of the biggest stars in the world - and sharing them all.
That was his job.
"I remember very well my first day in the Barcelona locker room, the moment when I met all the players and then-coach Ernesto Valverda. They were told I would be in charge of social media and that they would see me around a lot. Everyone welcomed me," Shoshan said in a special interview with "Israel today".
He was born in 1992 in Amsterdam, where his Israeli parents came.
As a child, he demonstrated two Israeli qualities: he spoke Hebrew and encouraged Barça.
Therefore, when in 2018 he accepted the offer of the Catalan club - he could not refuse it.
🥺 For the last time: What's up Barça family!
Bona tarda a tothom 👋
After 3 years at Barça, the time has come to say goodbye.
I would like to thank the Club for the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to work with a team and players I grew up idolizing as a kid - a dream come true.
pic.twitter.com/LT56t2m60S
- Aviv Levy Shoshan (@AvivLevyShoshan) January 3, 2022
Shushan, a stay with famous players is no stranger at all, thanks to his work on site 433, but he admits that he is not at the level of Leo Messi.
"The first time we talked, I told him what I was doing, and he replied 'beauty' and wished me great success."
Were you excited for the meeting with him?
"It was a dream. I'm used to talking to players, but with Messi it was a little different because he's an idol for all Barcelona fans and the best player in history. Ten seconds before I talked to him I was a little stressed, but then everything was fine. No matter if "It was Manchester, Sevilla or Lyon, people just go crazy over Messi. I felt a great privilege to be with all the good players, who were also nice people."
With one, Leo Messi,
Shushan can tell better than anyone if Messi's departure has hurt the number of Barcelona fans on social media.
He admits that the Argentine brand is very strong, but mentions that Barça has been around for 123 years.
"Of course he gave us a lot on the networks, because his impact is huge. Maybe at first the fans were upset, but Barça is Barça. The world leader in social media. "
What was your happiest event?
"Last season, when we made an amazing turnaround in the semi-finals at Granada and won the trophy, I was lucky to be behind the goal where the goals were scored - and all the players got where I stood. The pitch was empty because of the corona and we all shouted happily."
And the worst moment?
"At Anfield. The relegation against Liverpool was just a nightmare. It was one of the worst nights, not only in my job, but also in my life. In the first game at Camp Nou we won 0: 3 and we had a feeling we were already in the final, and suddenly you're not there."
Levi Shoshan and Frankie de Jong,
Guy Assulin, Coral Simnovitch and me
Shushan says that even Real Madrid is Barcelona's biggest rival, the most hostile pitches are in general of Sevilla, Atletico Madrid and Athletic Bilbao.
What did not surprise him of course was the warm welcome from Barça's delegation in the summer.
"Before I came to Barcelona, I followed Barça Mania on Facebook. The club with the most fans in Israel is Barcelona, then Real Madrid and then the Israeli teams. It's amazing to see how many Israeli fans there are in its games," Shoshan concludes with a smile: "We, the Israelis, are good "Very high-tech and less good at football. Until now, in Barcelona, there have been Guy Assulin who played, Coral Simanovic, the wife of Sergei Roberto, and me."
Aviv Levi Shoshan,
With all the followers he has, Shoshan admits that he is most excited to receive feedback from his family in Netanya, a city he visits several times a year.
The last and obvious question for someone who has received a lot of compliments as a professional, why are you leaving the job?
"After three intense years, I felt I had to take another step, not to bore Barça fans - and start new projects," said someone who would be part of an international agency of content and player representation and work with a top journalist like Fabrizio Romano.
What is certain is that he will continue to arrive at Camp Nou, with the phone, of course.
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