It is expected of almost every single FC Barcelona player to perform at the highest level with both club and country. After all, opportunities at the highest stage are few and far between, and making the most of them is what matters. For any Barcelona player, any such opportunity automatically becomes a priority.
In the recent set of matches in the UEFA Nations League, several players ended up getting a chance to make their mark. However, a certain Barcelona midfielder got to make his senior debut as well after fighting for a place all season long following his displays under Hansi Flick.
That player is none other than Marc Casado, a 21-year-old talent from La Masia who has become a standout performer for the Barcelona first team this season and has become a mainstay for the team. As a result of that, Luis de la Fuente decided to give him his debut against Switzerland.
After putting on a great display and putting his body on the line for his country, Casado left many people in awe. As highlighted by SPORT, almost the entirety of the Spanish squad was left amazed by his performance and could not help but commend his debut display.
For Bryan Zaragoza, the Osasuna forward who scored the winning goal for Spain in a 3-2 victory, Casado was nothing short of a ‘beast’, and his performance clearly left the 23-year-old winger impressed:
“He’s a beast… I don’t even know what to say about how he played. It was incredible. You see him, so small, and then he shocks you with how well he fights for the ball.”
Even Yeremi Pino, another one of Spain’s forwards against Switzerland, echoed similar praise for the young Barcelona talent:
“He’s a machine… a masterclass. He’s already proven his quality with Barça, and now he’s shown it with the national team.”
However, no praise is complete without the manager backing it up. For Luis de la Fuente, Casado was nothing short of incredible in how he played and read the game:
“The way he played over a game and a half with the team was incredible; he seemed like a veteran in how he read the game.”
Now, after such a wonderful display, the next step for Casado is to secure a place for himself in the next international break when it arrives in March of next year. Until then, the focus will now shift towards Barcelona and helping Hansi Flick’s team out.