The ambition of Leo Messi in his landing in women's football

Cornellà de LlobregatWomen's football continues to take steps forward. Despite the flight of talent to England, Catalan football is consolidating its commitment to continue growing. The latest major project to arrive has been in Cornellà. Through Leo Messi –who announced the purchase of the Baix Llobregat club three months ago–, UE Cornellà SAD will debut a women's team this coming season, the first in its history. "It is an honor that we are counted on for this project. For the club it is a very important step and we know we have a responsibility," Amara, who will be captain at just nineteen years old, explains to ARA. "It was an honor that they counted on me for this role. Furthermore, they are giving me a lot of confidence and I am very grateful," she adds.

Until now, Cornellà had the women's team of the Foundation, which competes in the Tercera Federación. With the creation of the new UE Cornellà SAD team, both sets will coexist in the municipal stadium. Initially, there will only be a first team, but the intention is to build a whole structure of women's grassroots football. The club points out that it is a project that is seen in the medium to long term with orderly, but sustained growth.

All this under the supervision and approval of Leo Messi. In the first meetings with the new ownership, the need to create a women's football structure of their own was seen, an idea to which the Argentine star gave his support. The will of all parties was to start the project immediately, which is why the first women's team was created without waiting to have a complete grassroots football structure. Although Leo Messi has not yet sent any videos to the players – the creation of the women's team was announced just as the World Cup was being played – the club from Baix Llobregat expects to receive one soon. "He is a person who is getting very involved in the project. It is important to see that those behind it are committed and working for it," assures the coach of the women's team, Edu de Grandi.

Despite the importance of having a public figure like Leo Messi, the players who arrive at UE Cornellà focus on the structure behind it. "Messi is just one part, but the work of the sports management is also important. Everything adds up to betting on the project," acknowledges De Grandi, who arrives at the club after boosting the women's football structure at Gornal. "Above all, it's the desire to be betting on the project, which belongs to the whole club. It's very good news that such a relevant person as Leo Messi, considering what this city, this town, represents, is betting on women's football. This is very good news for the girls coming up from below," adds Amara.

Taking advantage of the restructuring in women's football

With a very young squad, 70-80% of the players come from Youth, the ambition is intact and the challenge is to climb categories as soon as possible. "Promotions must be worked on, enthusiasm, effort, consistency and a lot of humility must be put in. We want to create a solid team and with hard work the objectives will be seen, but it is clear that the club needs a promotion to take advantage of the new structure that will exist in women's football," confesses the coach.

From the 2027-28 season, the Primera Federació femenina will go from one to two groups, while the Segona Federació will go from three to four groups. This will mean that this season there will be more promotions than relegations. In addition, in Catalonia a new category will also be created – the Divisió d'Honor – between the Tercera Federació and the Preferent. "With a promotion to the Segona Catalana, two categories could be moved up and the team would start competing in Preferent. Both for them and for us as a club, the sporting growth of two categories in just one year would be important," adds the coach.

A paradigm shift

The creation of a new women's team in Cornellà will help young female footballers grow with more female role models, something that was not so common a few years ago. "Since I was little, I've always really liked watching football, both men's and women's. When I was younger, my role models were indeed more boys, but now we have many Ballon d'Or winners in Catalonia and I focus on Barça's center-backs. I really like Mapi León and Irene Paredes," says Amara, who plays right center-back.

Alexandra –centre– and Claudia –midfielder–, on the other hand, talk about male role models. "I think young girls now really do have the opportunity to have more female role models than we had a few years ago. I used to look up to Piqué," Alexandra recalls. "I have more male football role models because that's what I've always seen. I look at the players who play in my position and, since I'm a Barça fan, I used to watch Iniesta or Xavi," Claudia recounts.