Telecinco is putting all its effort into making its new version of Strictly Come Dancing, Dancing with the Stars, come out perfectly. At the moment, Mediaset has announced up to ten contestants from different areas of society, such as María Isabel, singer and winner of Junior Eurovision in 2004 with Before dead than simple, or the former Real Madrid footballer Miguel Torres. Precisely the tenth inclusion comes from the other side of El Clásico.
José Manuel Pinto, former goalkeeper for Celta de Vigo and Fútbol Club Barcelona, ??is the latest inclusion in the Fuencarral chain’s contest. The native of Puerto de Santa María, who retired in 2014 to dedicate himself full-time to music production, has confirmed his participation through Telecinco’s Instagram. He has also done so with a significantly changed image, without the distinguishable dreadlocks that accompanied him on the playing fields.
“I have no experience in the world of dance. For me it is a challenge and it motivates me because I will love to learn a lot from all those dance styles. All elite athletes have that facet of speed, coordination, agility and concentration. It is clear that I am going to give it my all,” explained the man from Cádiz. It will be his first television appearance since he retired from football 10 years ago, after Barça signed Marc André ter-Stegen and did not renew his contract.
Pinto is one of the most charismatic goalkeepers in the history of the League. Trained at the Safa San Luis Sports Club in Puerto de Santa María, he signed at the age of 18 for Real Betis Balompié, where he played 82 games in their subsidiary. However, he only had one chance with the first team, in 1998, before signing for Celta. He spent ten years in Vigo, during which he won the Zamora Trophy as the goalkeeper with the fewest goals scored in the 2005-2006 season.
It was in 2008 that he had the opportunity to sign for Barça, after the serious injury of his long-serving substitute goalkeeper at that time, Albert Jorquera. Under the command of Pep Guardiola, Pinto would have minutes and opportunities in the Copa del Rey, where he left his most iconic moment in 2009: the famous penalty saved against José Luis Martí, from Mallorca, after telling him where he would shoot. Likewise, his risky footwork is also vividly remembered in Barcelona.
When his career came to an end in 2014, Pinto had amassed a total of 16 national and international titles, all won with Barça: four Leagues, two Copas del Rey, four Spanish Super Cups, two European Super Cups, two Champions Leagues and two FIFA club world cups. From there, he would dedicate himself to producing musical songs for artists of the stature of CNCO, Chenoa and Ruth Lorenzo.
