The preseason tour that FC Barcelona is currently going through is a great measure of strength. While these matches do not guarantee any official titles, they are still clashes being played by Europe’s finest. Thus far, Barcelona have managed to overcome both Manchester City and Real Madrid along the way.
However, these victories would not have come without the aid of some of La Masia’s finest. Coupled with a few youngsters from outside, this young Barcelona team managed to triumph over both of the last two UEFA Champions League winners while playing scintillating football as well.
From among the players that shined the brightest, there was a beacon by the name of Marc Bernal. The 17-year-old pivot from Barcelona Atletic has easily been one of the standout performers, and the statistics from his displays are there to back this statement up.
Moreover, according to AS, the young midfielder has already booked himself a place in the first team next season. His quality, maturity, and confidence are all just a few of the many brilliant attributes that the player possesses that also make him such a unique kind of footballer.
Within the Barcelona locker room, as per the same report, there is just one statement that resonates whenever Bernal is talked about:
“It’s the reincarnation of Sergio Busquets.”
Understandably, while those statements do come as exaggerations for now, there is some truth to them. It has been a very long time since Barcelona have last produced a defensive midfielder whose style of play resembles and mirrors Busquets as much as Bernal’s does, while being coupled with a lot more physicality and energy.
Moreover, if Bernal does make the first team next season, he would have done so three years younger than when Busquets managed to do the same. That, in its own right, would undoubtedly be quite the extraordinary accomplishment.
Even Pep Guardiola, a legendary former Barcelona coach and the current leader of Manchester City, was apparently in awe of the player. So much so that, as highlighted by AS, he would glance back at his assistants in surprise whenever Bernal would do something special on the ball.
With these performances, it is hardly surprising to see what Barcelona has in store for him. First team football is just the start, as a rotation-based role will not be where Bernal’s aspirations stop. Given the quality and talent that he possesses, the sky seems to be the limit at this point. Moreover, it results in Barça dropping the pursuit of signing a new pivot as well.
