Giuly living Barca dream

Ludovic Giuly admits he never envisaged he would be playing for Barcelona.

The gifted playmaker joined the Catalan giants last summer after featuring in last season's UEFA Champions League final for Monaco.

He had been at Monaco since January 1998 after coming through the youth ranks at reigning French champions Lyon.

Giuly concedes he did not believe his career could turn out in this manner, particularly as he feels he quit Lyon for Monaco too early.

"Today, I am at Barcelona," Giuly told Le Parisien. "But ten years ago who would have bet ‚é¼1 on me leaving my home?

"Everyone doubted me. But my destiny is stronger than everything. I am here through my work and my moral strength.

"It is necessary for me to feel a little lucky. It came the day when Jose Broissard, the person in charge of the reserves at the time, passed me by chance and sent me to train with the professionals.

"I scored two goals and Jean Tigana [the coach at the time], who did not know me, was seduced. My destiny tipped for the first time.

"Then I had some bad moments with Bernard Lacombe due to my lack of maturity and his lack of dialogue.

"One day I was captain, the next day I was with the reserves. It is hard when you are 20-years-old.

"Then I left too early for Monaco and my first months were disastrous. I was the biggest French transfer of the time while mentally I was very stretched."

Though Giuly's time with Barcelona has been blighted by injury, the schemer still has to pinch himself that he is playing at Camp Nou.

He added: "There is the man in me that knows that I deserve to be there but I remain a kid."