It seems that whenever Barcelona runs into trouble, they always look towards their youngsters. Names like Gavi, Pedri, Ronald Araujo, Lamine Yamal, and Fermin Lopez are just a few young names that have helped Barça reach new heights in recent years. However, the youth academy of Barcelona never seems to stop producing promising talents.
La Masia continues to be a revered youth academy, mainly because of its production of many footballing greats. Midfielders and goal scorers are a rather notable forte of the academy, and it seems that a new name is on his ascent.
Marc Guiu, aged just 17, is a striker from the Barcelona subsidiary. Tall, physically imposing, quick on his feet, and able to strike a ball rather fiercely, Guiu is a lethal forward. Moreover, as highlighted by Mundo Deportivo, he is also Barça’s homegrown answer to this season’s problems.
While other strikers such as Robert Lewandowski continue to underperform, and the likes of Vitor Roque still being untested, Guiu has taken the spotlight. Despite not being given too many minutes to display his qualities, Guiu has made the most of his chances.
Even though he is not a regular first-team player, the 17-year-old has three goals for the Barcelona first team. Interestingly, all three have come in different competitions, and all three showcase different strengths of his.
The first goal came against Athletic Bilbao in his debut, and only mere seconds after he stepped on the field. A breakaway goal, it came as a result of his speed and quick thinking. Moreover, it was the only goal of the game and gave Barcelona a 1-0 victory.
His second goal, a powerful header, came against Royal Antwerp in the UEFA Champions League. Despite the game ending in a 3-2 loss for Barcelona, Guiu’s goal was a great highlight. Rising above his markers and thumping across a lethal header, the goal showcased his aerial prowess.
Lastly, in his most recent contribution, Guiu scored a goal against Club America in a friendly in Dallas. Taking advantage of his striker’s instinct and positioning ability, he latched onto a great ball from Hector Fort. Without hesitation or delay, the 17-year-old striker ensured the ball went into the net with his very first touch.
One goal in La Liga, coupled with one each in the Champions League and in a friendly, are thus far Guiu’s contributions to the first team. With the way that he continues to play, it would not be a surprise to see him appear more. Moreover, fans of Barcelona seem to have his back, and he surely is gaining Xavi’s trust as well.