17-year-old Pau Cubarsí Is Latest Academy Player To Come Through For Barcelona’s Senior Team – News18

MADRID: The La Masia youth academy retains churning out expertise for Barcelona.

Yet one other teenager from the membership’s famed youth system has impressed when known as upon to take a outstanding function with the senior staff. This time it was 17-year-old central defender Pau Cubarsí, who was key within the Catalan membership’s win towards Napoli within the spherical of 16 of the Champions League on Wednesday.

In what was his European debut, Cubarsí was named the person of the match as Barcelona received 3-1 and superior 4-2 on mixture to return to the competitors’s quarterfinals for the primary time in 4 years.

“It’s one of these players for life, another one that comes from La Masia,” veteran Barcelona midfielder Sergi Roberto stated. “When we say that this club is more than a club, it’s because of things like this, because of this belief in the home-grown players.”

Unable to spend a lot on new signings due to its monetary struggles, Barcelona has been taking a threat by giving its kids extra probabilities as an alternative.

Pedri, Gavi and Ansu Fati made their debut as youngsters not way back, and most not too long ago it was 16-12 months-previous Lamine Yamal attracting headlines after thriving with the senior squad.

Yamal additionally performed properly on Tuesday to assist Barcelona advance. One of the staff’s objectives was scored by 20-12 months-previous Fermín López, one other participant introduced up by La Masia.

The most well-known participant to make it from La Masia was Lionel Messi, who spent practically 20 years at Barcelona earlier than becoming a member of Paris Saint-Germain in 2021 amid the Catalan membership’s monetary difficulties.

Cubarsí, recognized for his exact tackles, calmness and correct passing in transition, turned the youngest participant to debut within the knockout stage of the Champions League.

“It was one of the best days of my life,” Cubarsí stated. “Very happy with the (man of the match) trophy and with the club returning to the quarterfinals after some difficult years.”

Coach Xavi Hernández, who additionally got here by Barcelona’s youth system, has been utilizing Cubarsí usually as a starter, and the teenager hasn’t dissatisfied.

“Pau is emerging as a great talent for Barcelona and Spain,” Xavi stated. “He has a fantastically organized and clear mind and is humble and hard-working. It is a spectacle to watch him. When he has the ball, my heart rate does not increase. He has the calmness to generate attacking plays.”

Cubarsí has been a daily for Spain’s nationwide youth groups and lots of native pundits are saying he already deserves an opportunity with “La Roja’s” senior staff.

Cubarsí made his first-staff debut for Barcelona in a Copa del Rey match in January.

Ronald Araujo, who performed alongside Cubarsí towards Napoli, known as his teammate “the future of this club.”

“He has spectacular talent,” Araujo stated. “We hope that he can keep playing like this for many years.”

Among the La Masia gamers who’ve succeeded briefly with Barcelona’s senior staff earlier than leaving to affix different golf equipment included Riqui Puig, Nico González, Ilaix Moriba and Adama Traoré.

Barcelona is the defending Spanish league champion however trails chief Real Madrid by eight factors with 10 matches remaining. It sits in third place, one level behind second-place Girona. Barcelona’s subsequent league match is at fourth-place Atletico Madrid on Sunday.

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(This story has not been edited by News18 workers and is printed from a syndicated information company feed – Associated Press)