Arda Turan and Aleix Vidal undergo Barcelona initiations
Some traditions are not lost over time. Hazing (initiations) is one of them at FC Barcelona. On this occasion there were two new signings who had to jump through hoops - Arda Turan and Aleix Vidal.
These two players have lived quiet lives since arriving at Barcelona, so much so they were convinced they missed out on the hazing process as they passed the first two weeks without any surprises or tests.
But tradition returned with all its weight on Sunday night. THe captains prepared a surprise after dinner. Andres Iniesta and Sergio Busquets called Turan and Vidal after dessert, telling them they had to induct themselves.
Turan went first. He was made to stand on a chair and speak in Spanish for one minute. A test that seems like a Kindergarten child would pass it, but knowing the enormous difficulties the midfielder has with Spanish, it was almost as if he had to run a marathon naked in the streets of Washington. He spoke for a minute to introduce himself and explain his feelings in his early days at the club. The truth is at the end the hall exploded with applause, even though most couldn't understand everything he said.
More loose and carefree was seeing Aleix Vidal forced to tell jokes to the squad. And his time at Sevilla and Almeria have given the Tarragona born wide man a sense of humour of an Andalusian. He stood on a chair and entertained everyone, with imitations aplenty, to the delight of the players.
