FC Barcelona are now witnessing the birth of a very special new generation of players. The Blaugrana continue to count on their own youth products and provide them with the right opportunities to shine in the first team. However, this season, in particular, Barcelona have been blessed with some very special talents.
The names of starlets such as Lamine Yamal, Marc Guiu, Hector Fort, and Fermin Lopez are becoming much bigger and known names in the realm of European football. However, one player whose evolution is beyond surreal is that of Barcelona defender Pau Cubarsi.
As highlighted by Mundo Deportivo, the 17-year-old defender is an anomaly even in terms of ascending youth players. While it is more common to see young attackers get a chance, due to their explosive technical traits, it is much more uncommon to see a central defender play for the first team at such a young age.
This is primarily due to the fact that defenders require a bigger physical presence than the ones demanded of forwards. Consequently, at such a young age, players have not yet developed to their maximum physical potential. For this reason, the reliance on Cubarsi becomes even more impressive.
Formidable in winning duels, excellent in positioning, and almost faultless when it comes to distributing possession, Cubarsi is rightly hailed as one of the academy pearls at Barcelona. Even when his seniors seem to be out of clues, he manages to provide the best possible pass.
Moreover, it is not just the timing or his technique either. The exact power, placement, and direction he applies to his passes make them seem perfect for whichever teammate receives them. Coupled with his undeniably solid defensive executions, the 17-year-old becomes a force to be reckoned with.
These impressive traits of his have already been put to the test as well. Against the explosive threat of Athletic Club, or against the power upfront of Real Betis, and even against attacking juggernauts who play for Osasuna or Villarreal, Cubarsi has shown great character and consistency.
