When physical limitations are a problem: the former Barcelona player who can't lift weights

BarcelonaIf there's one footballer who doesn't go unnoticed on the pitch, it's Adama Traoré. Known for his striking physique and power on the field – more akin to an American football player – the player from Hospitalet de Llobregat has turned his athleticism and musculature into a hallmark and his main competitive advantage. A privileged genetic makeup that, paradoxically, seems to have gone from a virtue to a problem.

The reason for the controversy? West Ham United, the club he joined this past winter transfer window, has banned him from lifting weights in the gym. The decision has been endorsed and openly stated by his manager, Nuno Espírito Santo. His reasoning is as simple as it is forceful: his genetics already do the work, and insisting could be counterproductive. Adam Traoré has such a powerful physique that the club has decided to put the brakes on.

A controversial physicist

The debate is nothing new. Adama's physique has been generating all sorts of opinions for years. He himself has tried to put an end to the topic on more than one occasion: "I don't lift weights. My genetics make my muscles grow very quickly," he says. "Everyone should adapt to what works best for them. I mainly do strength training." core"Eccentric abdominal exercises and pulleys. The secret is knowing your body and adapting the training to your physical condition," he explained in an interview with the newspaper. Ace"He lifts too much weight. I've told him not to go to the gym. He'll do injury prevention work, but he won't lift anything heavy," Nuno said about his winger, whose game is based on explosiveness and changes of pace. The Portuguese coach, in fact, contrasted this with the opposite case within the dressing room: that of a young under-21 defender who needs to spend many hours in the gym to gain muscle mass. "We have the opposite case with Airidas Golambeckis, who needs to put on weight and spends many hours in the gym," he remarked.

From the Maternity Ward to Camp Nou

After starting out with teams in Hospitalet, where his parents live – residents of Catalonia since the 1980s – Adama arrived at La Masia at the age of eight and made his debut at the Camp Nou at just 17. He left Barça after playing four matches with the first team, carrying with him a label that still clings to him today: immense speed and power. But Aston Villa, Middlesbrough, Wolverhampton, Fulham, and now West Ham have all tried to solve the same puzzle. In between, a brief return to Barça, in the form of a loanDuring the winter transfer window of the 2021-22 season, with Xavi Hernández as manager. In London, for now, his Premier League minutes are limited, and his only start has been in the FA Cup. However, his manager has faith in the process. So much so, that he even wants to modify his off-field routine. The winger, who has played for Spain and participated in a European Championship, explained that during his time at Tottenham he would rub baby oil on his arms to prevent opposing players from grabbing his arm.