José Manuel Pinto

Barcelona Pinto signed on loan for Barcelona on 18 January 2008, with the player arriving as cover for the injured Albert Jorquera after the latter damaged knee ligaments during the festive break. He made his debut on 26 April, in a 2–0 away loss to Deportivo de La Coruña. His second match also ended in defeat, as Mallorca came up from behind 2–0 to win 3–2 at the Camp Nou.

On 30 May 2008, Barcelona signed Pinto on a permanent deal for two years and €500,000. In his first full season he was first-choice in the Copa del Rey which was won, including the final with Athletic Bilbao.

On 22 October 2010, UEFA opened a disciplinary case, charging Pinto with "improper conduct" following his actions in a Champions League group stage match against Copenhagen two days earlier. Allegedly, he whistled to fool opponent player César Santin – who was running through on goal in the 26th minute – into thinking he was offside, leading him to stop, believing that the referee, Stéphane Lannoy, had blown his whistle; the referee allowed the play to continue and did not show Pinto a yellow card for the alleged deception. Following the game, Barcelona strongly distanced itself from their player's conduct. The incident was captured on video, showing the goalkeeper apparently whistling and then gloating over the incident; after the investigation was concluded, he was suspended for two games.

Pinto made his first league appearance for the Catalans in more than two years on 20 February 2011 (due to a knee injury to Víctor Valdés), in a 2–1 home win over Athletic Bilbao where he notably saved a Fernando Llorente header. Again, he started in the domestic cup campaign, including the final against Real Madrid, a 1–0 extra-time loss. The following week, against the same team but in the Champions League semi-finals' first leg, he was sent off by referee Wolfgang Stark after a half-time altercation involving himself (he was on the bench), Álvaro Arbeloa and Real Madrid match delegate Chendo, in a 2–0 away win.

In 2011–12, Pinto was once again the starting goalkeeper in the Spanish Cup campaign, with Barcelona again reaching the decisive match and again defeating Athletic Bilbao (3–0). His first league appearance only came on 29 April 2012, in a 7–0 away rout of Rayo Vallecano.

On 11 February 2013, after having agreed to it the previous December, the 37-year-old Pinto renewed his contract with the Blaugrana, due to expire in June, for a further season. In May 2014, he left as a free agent.

Personal life Still as an active footballer, Pinto started working as a musician and a record producer, mainly in hip hop. In 2000 he founded his own label, Wahin Makinaciones, which was also the name of his first release six years later; his musical alter ego was Wahin.

Career statistics

Honours Celta UEFA Intertoto Cup: 2000

Barcelona La Liga: 2008–09, 2010–11, 2012–13 Copa del Rey: 2008–09,