It’s been some time now but it finally looks like Barcelona have found an in-house solution to Sergio Busquets’ replacement. As always, it’s La Masia that has come up with a solution at a difficult time for the club.
Since Hansi Flick came to the club, talks of a defensive midfielder’s signing have died down. Much of it has to do with the fact that the German coach was impressed with what he saw in the academy. Two names that caught his attention were Marc Casado and Marc Bernal.
The duo have started at the base of midfield in both of Barcelona’s pre-season games in the US. They have shown a great sense of understanding in the games against Man City and Real Madrid, offering hope for the future.
Among the two, Bernal operates in a deeper role. Against City, Barcelona built play up with a double pivot. However, against Real Madrid, Flick chose to build up with a single pivot and Marc Bernal thrived in this role.
The 17-year-old defensive midfielder put up a masterclass against Los Blancos, as evidenced by the stats. Sofascore has revealed that the player completed 100% of his 47 passes, including four long balls. He also recorded one clearance, one block, and one interception in 77 minutes on the pitch.
The 1.91m Spaniard looks to have an X-factor about him in midfield. He is calm in possession, unflustered under pressure, and almost always seems to find the right option when it comes to a pass.
That said, Bernal can certainly improve the defensive side of his game. The lanky midfielder is not yet adept at winning duels at the highest level but that is one aspect of his game that will come with time.
Every season, there is a new La Masia star who explodes on the first-team stage and this year could be the turn of Bernal’s. The important thing is that Hansi Flick trusts him. The future is bright for the Spaniard and let’s hope he lives up to this initial promise.
