The metamorphosis of Kika Nazareth

His ability to tame the ball is the same as his ability to learn languages. At 21 years old, Kika Nazareth (Lisbon, 2002) masters her mother tongue –Portuguese–, but also English, Spanish, and makes good progress with Catalan. “I understand almost everything. “I’m studying Catalan,” explains the Portuguese forward, who has asked the club to be able to learn that language with a private teacher, an alternative that the entity offers to all its athletes.

Today Kika, the only player represented by Jorge Mendes, hopes and wishes to play her first classic in the Blaugrana shirt in Valdebebas. “In Portugal, the classic is Porto-Benfica, but I never played it. These games are the ones that make you want to play the most. Here they say they are intense,” says the Portuguese.

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Kika arrived at Barça in the summer. His was a notable transfer. Coming from Benfica and called to be one of the most decisive players on the international scene, Barcelona paid the Portuguese club an amount close to 400,000 euros. Almost half of the termination clause of one million that he had with Benfica, whose contract ended on June 30, 2025. It is not that it is a slab. But that price, never seen before in the Blaugrana women’s football market, generates a feeling of responsibility for and for the club.

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Those who know her say that the Portuguese woman has undergone a radical change. She went from spending the night at the family home in Lisbon and being the star of Benfica to living alone around the Barça sports city to play for a team where she has a lot of competition. Mariona Caldentey left, yes, but great figures like Alexia, Aitana, Patri Guijarro, and even Claudia Pina shine in her position. “His was a complete start over,” says those around him.

“Tomorrow I turn 22 and I want to celebrate it with a victory against Madrid.”

Even so, in the sports city they explain that the adaptation has been very good. With her, the focus was placed above all on physical preparation and also on improving her speed. All in all, he has participated in the 12 games that Barça has played in all competitions. Half being a starter. He already has two goals, one in League F and another in the Champions League.

In her free time, Kika likes to go sightseeing and discover Barcelona. He is also passionate about reading. Currently, on his nightstand is The midnight library by Matt Haig. A book in which the protagonist is offered a new opportunity. This is the case of Kika, who has made very good friends in the locker room. Mastering so many languages, she seems comfortable speaking in English with Ellie Roebuck, the goalkeeper who also arrived in the summer, or with Keira Walsh. He has also hit it off with Salma Paralluelo or the young Vicky López, who yesterday, at 18 years old, extended her contract until 2028.

Despite her football self-confidence, Kika is shy. “I’m still embarrassed to celebrate goals. But tomorrow, November 17, I turn 22 and my family will be at the classic. “I hope to celebrate with three points and a win,” he said.

It will also be the first classic of Pere Romeu and Ewa Pajor

His will not be the only possible debut. German Ewa Pajor, the top scorer in the F League with nine goals, will also make her debut in the game of games. Pere Romeu, the Blaugrana coach, is delighted with his signing. The integration of the forward is being facilitated by Víctor Zamora, one of the physical trainers, due to his knowledge of German. “He has adapted very well. He’s scoring a lot of goals. She is a 10 player on a personal level and is very professional. He has an incredible focus of attention. It gives us a lot,” Romeu analyzed. They all want to play.

In the locker room they have told me that playing a classic is very intense”

Kika Nazareth

“Obviously for someone from outside it is always good to explain what a classic means. But you can already smell that they are looking extremely excited,” said Romeu. For him, who was part of the previous coaching staff, he will also be the first directing Barça. “I’m from Barça. And I want to win. The point of tranquility is very important for everyone,” says Romeu.

14 victories in 14 classics

A favorable statistic for the Blaugrana

The statistics encourage that tranquility. Barcelona has won the previous 14 classics with a balance of 49 goals for and 7 against. To try to minimize the gap, the white team led by Alberto Toril has been reinforced with seven players: Melanie Leupolz, Alba Redondo, Eva Navarro, Filippa Angeldahl, Maëlle Lakrar, Antonia Silva and Sheila García.

The bet is paying off. Real Madrid, which reaches the classic after beating Twente (7-0) in the Champions League, is second, five points behind Barça, but with one game less. He has yet to play against Levante, a match postponed by DANA. The gap is getting smaller. Yes indeed. The Santiago Bernabéu does not yet exist for them.