Unmasking London City's Spanish superstar

There is not a single empty seat as Alexia Putellas walks into a room at a hotel in Maidstone ready to speak to the English media for the first time.

"Woah," the two-time Ballon d'Or winner says as she opens the door and sees all the journalists looking in her direction, eager to finally meet her.

You would think that somebody who is referred to as 'La Reina' - the queen - in Spain is used to that kind of attention.

She is considered one of the greatest players of her generation, captained Barcelona to a fourth Women's Champions League title in May and is a World Cup winner with Spain.

But Putellas, who signed for London City Lionesses this summer in what is being touted as the biggest signing in WSL history, is embarking on a different journey with her new club that brings all the stresses and uncertainties anyone would face.

She sat down with the BBC's Women's Football Weekly podcast and addressed media in a press conference that helped unmask the global superstar.

From Barcelona to Bromley: Inside Putellas' move to LCL

Barcelona as a way of life

Putellas was born in a municipality of Catalonia called Mollet del Valles in the province of Barcelona, and regularly watched games at Nou Camp as a child.

Former Spain and Barcelona star Andres Iniesta was an inspiration to her, while she has also named Brazilian duo Rivaldo and Ronaldinho as players she idolised.

Putellas attended summer football camps ran by Xavi and played for local side CE Sabadell as a child.

She spent a year at La Masia, Barcelona's famous youth academy, but had to leave when her girls team was disbanded.

After spells at Espanyol and Levante, she eventually returned to Barca in 2012 - the start of an incredible 14-year career with her childhood club.

"In Spain, football is the typical sport. When I was young, [it was] not for women, but fortunately, nowadays it is," said Putellas.

"I just had the ball at my feet and I was playing all the time - in the park, in the streets, sometimes at home.

"For me, it was normal because in my house Barca games were always on the TV. I started by watching games and then suddenly, I had the ball all day."

Finding her limits as a footballer

The 32-year-old went on to win 38 trophies with Barcelona, including 10 league titles and four European cups.

She was awarded back-to-back Ballon d'Or crowns in 2021 and 2022 and is favourite to win it again this year.

Internationally, she helped Spain win the 2023 World Cup and finish runners-up at Euro 2025.

But Putellas is not done. When asked if she can still get better, she laughed and said: "Yeah, of course. Always. Day after day, I want to learn things.

"That's the way I see this job. Just keep going, never stop and be as good as I can."

She described the journey she has embarked on at London City Lionesses as one that can help her "find where my limits are" as a footballer.

Putellas is enjoying pre-season but her focus never fully switches off.

"It's all about Manchester United," she says as she looks ahead to London City's season opener on 4 September (19:00 BST).

She has given up Champions League football to join London City, an independent women's-only club in its infancy. Will she need to adapt her mindset?

"Both can live together, my mentality and the moment of the project. I'm going to bring to the project whatever it needs from me," she added.

"I'm 100% committed. I'm hungry to win, I'm hungry to be better day after day and to fight with my team-mates for the victory."

Her competitiveness shines through in every conversation.

She is handed a present - a game based on the London underground - by BBC Sport.

"Oh yes, I will play with Freya Godfrey, then I can win. I will tell her that," she jokes.

That winning mentality has never changed - but she gained a new perspective when an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury ruled her out of Euro 2022 on the eve of the tournament.

"Since the ACL injury, I enjoy everything. It's not enjoying just having fun, it's about learning something, and then I enjoy learning that thing," she added.

"I'm just a person who loves what she does. I love competition, I love football, I love training, I love to improve.

"I'm just always looking forward to better things and that's why I'm here too, because I always need to be moving as a person and a player."

Putellas is still learning the English language. She reminds journalists of that when she tries to breakdown the WSL's tactics.