Barcelona will pay close attention to 16-year-old La Masia gem for the first team

The hunt for a world-class pivot at FC Barcelona is ongoing as the absence left by Sergio Busquets becomes increasingly noticeable.

Oriol Romeu was signed as a temporary solution in the defensive midfield role, but it is becoming clear that the veteran’s abilities are limited and not suited for Barcelona’s long-term needs.

Under Xavi’s leadership, the mission is clear: trust in the young talents to bring success and restore Barcelona’s identity through La Masia, its strongest foundation.

After Lamine Yamal’s impressive breakthrough into the first team, there is a sense of confidence among the youngsters that confirms the saying: if they are good enough, they are old enough.

And now, according to reports from SPORT, there may be another exceptional teenager on the verge of his first-team debut, named Marc Bernal.

Club to Monitor Him at U17 World Cup

Earlier this year, Bernal signed a new deal with the club and has been rapidly developing under the guidance of Rafa Marquez.

Initially, it seemed that Bernal wouldn’t have a significant role for Barça Atlètic this season, given the presence of players like Casado, Aleix Garrido, and Noah Darvich in the squad.

However, Bernal is a highly intelligent midfielder who knows how to interpret the game well, and he also possesses good shooting ability.

Standing at 1.9m tall, Bernal also has the potential to make a physical impact when he fully develops.

The 16-year-old now embarks on the U17 World Cup with great promise, and the Barcelona senior staff will closely observe his performance.

Deco Believes in Bernal’s Potential

Barcelona’s sporting director, Deco, recognizes the immense potential in Bernal and predicts that he will be a future star for the first team in their youth-centered project.

Bernal has already trained with Xavi multiple times, and there are high hopes for his integration into the main squad.

The young talent has played 540 minutes with the subsidiary team this season and recently became the youngest-ever scorer in the Spanish third division, which are all positive signs to watch out for.