FC Barcelona bought several high-profile signings this summer window and brought in players like Ilkay Gundogan, Joao Felix, and Joao Cancelo, who are all established stars and whose fanfare is naturally expected to dwarf the arrival of other less noteworthy players.
However, another signing went somewhat under the radar with the arrival of these big names, but one which is still expected to be a hit at the Catalan club. This signing is of the Senegalese defender, Mikayil Faye.
Faye growing at Barcelona
The central defender is already causing much excitement as he has adapted to his new team in Barce Atletic. Even before making his debut with the youth team, the defender impressed in the pre-season under Xavi.
But now, as he is getting playing time with the B team, his best qualities and strengths are getting more prominent. However, Carlos Olmo, Dani Olmo’s brother, who has already played in the club that Barcelona bought Faye from, NK Kustosija, had already declared in June that Faye is going to shine with his new club.
Former teammate on Faye’s strengths
As SPORT has reported, Carlos Olmo appeared in an interview, and said the following about Faye:
“What I like most about him is his mentality. He’s a very normal, very calm guy; he doesn’t have his head in the clouds, which is something that often happens with talented footballers at 18 years old.”
Further commenting on the defender, Olmo picked his speed as his biggest strength:
“If I had to highlight something about him as a footballer, I would tell you that the guy is faster than you can say ‘now.’ I would highlight his mentality, he’s a perfect guy, but in terms of football, he’s incredibly fast and powerful. That’s undeniable.”
Other than his speed and physicality, Olmo claimed the defender also has an amazing shot:
“He has an incredible ball-striking ability, even though he’s left-footed, his right foot is good too. When he arrived here at 18 years old, he started taking corners and free kicks; that tells you everything.”
“An 18-year-old player who arrives in February, and after seeing him train a bit, you already ask him to take free kicks and corners, all that’s telling you is that he has a very good striking ability.”
Olmo also shared his personal experience of how he saw his former teammate make some impossible movements on the pitch:
“For us, he was a real lifesaver during the months he played with us in defense. He has the timing under perfect control. Many times, I thought, ‘He won’t make it,’ and then he does.”
So, he’s fast but also has excellent timing, defends well, and tackles effectively. I’m not saying this because he was on my team; I would think, ‘He’s positioned badly now, he won’t make it,’ but he always did.”
Going by Olmo’s accounts, Barcelona definitely got a very special talent on their hands this summer. While he has started his life at Barcelona brilliantly, Faye still has to develop and grow more before becoming a first-team player at the club.
