Women’s soccer star Alexia Putellas leaves Barcelona after 14 seasons
MADRID: Two-time Ballon d’Or winner Alexia Putellas, who has helped women’s soccer grow in Spain and worldwide, is leaving Barcelona after 14 seasons. Barcelona said Tuesday that Putellas will officially bid farewell at an event at Camp Nou stadium on Wednesday, giving the club a “chance to recognize the legacy created by a player who has become a role model on and off the field and who has helped women’s football to grow across the globe.” The 32-year-old Putellas on Saturday helped Barcelona win the Champions League title for the fourth time in six seasons. There was no immediate announcement about her next move, with speculation in Spain that she may join the fast-emerging London City Lionesses. Putellas attended a Lionesses game in London in January. Putellas played 507 games for Barcelona — second on the all-time list — since arriving at age 18 in 2012 from Levante, the Catalan club said. Putellas scored 232 goals for Barcelona, a club record, and won 38 trophies, including four Champions Leagues and 10 Spanish league titles. “The time has come to acknowledge that I’ve given everything for these colors,” Putellas said in a video posted on her social media accounts.
