Understanding FC Barcelona takes more than just looking at what the first team accomplishes. While the Catalan club is one of football’s most accomplished entities, its defining piece remains its academy. La Masia, even today, continues to save Barcelona from the humiliation of their modern problems.
As the recent seasons have gone by, more and more names from the Barcelona quarry have gained prominence. From Gavi to the likes of Alejandro Balde, Lamine Yamal, Pau Cubarsi, and others, Barça have seen a great surge in both quality and the number of players they have produced who are capable of performing at the top level.
However, they are not the first of such a kind of players, and they will not be the last. As per the latest information provided by Alex Pintanel, Xavi Hernandez has a specific midfielder in his mind as the next big thing at Barcelona, and this belief is shared by many of those who follow the club at its root levels.
Marc Bernal, aged just 16, is considered to be the next big thing to come out of the Barcelona youth levels. Having been at the club since he was six years old, Bernal lives and breathes the colors of La Blaugrana. However, he currently has not had the chance to represent the senior Barcelona team at any point.
Even though the player has been a part of several training sessions with the first team, his official debut with them is yet to come. Instead, he is a regular with Barcelona Atletic under the guidance and tutelage of Rafa Marquez, and his projection is already considered to be extremely high and destined for greatness.
He currently has a contract until 2026, with both Barcelona and Xavi keeping a close eye on his progress. Moreover, even though several foreign teams have inquired and questioned about a potential future away from Barcelona, Bernal remains convinced that his future lies with the Catalan club itself.
Despite just being 16, Bernal’s understanding of the game and his physique both mask his tender age. Already standing at 1.90 meters, he possesses both power and technical brilliance.
In terms of his style and way of playing, he is something quite unconventional for a Barcelona product. However, that is exactly what makes him such an unorthodox yet effective asset for the club, both now and for the future.
