FC Barcelona permanently signed Pau Victor from Girona a couple of weeks ago following his impressive loan stint with Barça Atlètic. However, the move went under the radar. After the pre-season games against Man City and Real Madrid though, the 22-year-old has become one to look out for in Hansi Flick’s team for the upcoming season.
To say Victor has been a revelation would not be an exaggeration. He seems to have already leapfrogged Vitor Roque as Barcelona’s second-choice striker behind Robert Lewandowski despite just coming into the first-team picture.
Pau Victor produced an exquisite finish against Man City a few days ago. He followed up this performance with two goals in his first-ever El Clasico. The Spaniard showed proper striker instincts to end up at the right place at the right time on both occasions.
Barcelona lost a prodigious talent in Marc Guiu to Chelsea but at a club of this stature, no one except maybe Lionel Messi is irreplaceable. The club has already moved on with Pau Victor emerging as the next young striker.
After his exceptional brace against Real Madrid, Pau Victor was understandably elated. When quizzed about who his idol in football was, he named Barcelona and Argentinian legend Lionel Messi. Here is what he had to say as quoted by Mundo Deportivo:
“I have a very clear one, which is Messi, but I cannot compare myself with him. I always look for other references and that is Lewandowski. It is very important to learn from him, he is a unique striker.”
Mentioning Messi is not surprising for a youngster playing at Barcelona but it’s interesting that Pau Victor chose to mention Robert Lewandowski. After all, who better than the Polish superstar to mentor the young 22-year-old through his initial years in the first team.
Lewandowski is 35 and has been showing signs of slowing down over the past couple of seasons. Under Hansi Flick, one would expect the ex-Bayern man to perform for maybe one or at best two more seasons.
In the meantime, it is extremely essential that the club groom his replacement. Could that be Pau Victor? The Spaniard will be 24 in a couple of years time. He is already showing traits of an elite striker but the Blaugrana environment could be unforgiving.
Right now, Pau Victor is on cloud nine. However, he needs to remain grounded and keep developing. The future looks bright for the 22-year-old and let’s hope we see that in a Barcelona shirt.
