FC Barcelona continue their dependence and trust when it comes to their youth products. Many of the talents of La Blaugrana from their own academy and subsidiary continue to get opportunities. However, certain young gems continue to build their profiles and make Barcelona higher-ups raise their eyebrows.
Just as Barcelona and Xavi once took the risk with young Lamine Yamal to let him into the first team, other youngsters continue to hope and aim for the same. That majestic precedent has now been set for more to follow, and there is already another one from Yamal’s generation waiting his turn.
Also aged 16 and still barely an adult, SPORT highlights the meteoric rise of Marc Bernal. Born in the same generation as that of Lamine Yamal, Bernal is a talent more occupied with the midfield rather than playing as much on the extremes as his former partner in crime and now Barça first team winger.
Bernal, for his age at least, is a massive player with a great physique attached to him. His ability to control the flow of the game has gained him much appreciation and praise from those who have helped coach him through his youth years.
Even Rafa Marquez, current Barcelona Atletic head coach, had nothing but words of praise for his pivot star:
“One of his advantages is his physicality, his height. He has a lot of quality to play in the midfield, to play as an interior on either side, which makes him more versatile. He is very young and also has to go through several processes to be able to aim higher.”
Moreover, he was labeled as one of the two difference makers alongside Lamine Yamal for Albert Puig as well, who coached both the young starlets in Barcelona Infantil B:
“In my team, Marc and Lamine made the difference. Marc was an interior with a privileged physique who repeated efforts with incredible ease.”
Now, looking forward, it is deemed that Bernal will be the next great revelation from the Barcelona quarry. After all the numerous breakthroughs, it is only a matter of when, not if, Marc Bernal gets to showcase what all the hype around him is truly about.
