What could have been but never came to fruition—that’s the story of former Barcelona player Jeffrén Suárez Cuenca. He made his debut for Pep Guardiola’s Barça at 20, yet injuries derailed his career. After stints at Ajax, Deportivo La Coruña, and Granada, he hung up his boots at 32.
Now 34, he has embarked on a new chapter as an entrepreneur with his company "Col2Sport," which focuses on providing "effective solutions for muscle prevention, recovery, and hydrothermal recovery." This venture holds special meaning for him: he underwent as many as six surgeries on the same knee. In a recent media interview, the ex-Barça man opened up about how he coped with injuries and his time at the Catalan club.
On His Current Injury Status
"Up until about a year ago, I’d wake up with pain every day. Then I had some stem cell injections, which worked wonders for relieving it. Since then, I’ve been able to live a much more active life—though I no longer play paddle tennis, football, or go running."
Why He Founded "Col2Sport"
"After discovering a technology similar to that used in wine coolers, I decided to dive into making knee braces and other thermal recovery products. While recovering from my last knee surgery, I realized this system could be applied to knee and ankle braces, offering precise temperature control, autonomy, and sustainability. That’s when this new chapter began."
From Sabadell to Barça
"I’m from Sabadell. I tried to savor the well-manicured pitches, team trips, and different stadiums… but deep down, I felt overwhelmed. The pressure at Barça was enormous—they’d already won everything before I arrived. There were times I was taken aback by things, but let’s be real: those were the best players in the world. Messi, Xavi, Iniesta, Valdés… how amazing they were! They were incredible."
Life After Leaving Barça
"You’re still young, but suddenly you have to leave your circle. You make a lot of money—enough to buy whatever you want—but you also have so much free time. For example, after morning training, you have the whole day left. Then what? Loneliness hits, and money can’t stop that."
