What do they feed the kids over at Barcelona’s youth academy?! Results under Xavi might have fluctuated this season, but overall, in his tenure, the magic of La Masia has been rekindled with debuts of world-class prospects like Lamine Yamal, Alejandro Balde, Marc Guiu, and more. Pau Cubarsi joined the list recently at just 16!
The excitement around Cubarsi is at fever-pitch, not just because Barcelona’s precarious financial situation will prevent them from splurging much, but because he’s an outstanding prospect with the potential of leading a team’s backline.
So, who is Pau Cubarsi, and is the excitement around him valid? We take a look-
Who is Pau Cubarsi?
Pau Cubarsi is Catalonian through and through, something which will undoubtedly help him get the adulation of the FC Barcelona fans. He came through the Girona youth academy, who are performing a miracle of their own in the league.
He moved to Barcelona in 2018 at the age of 12 and so quickly was he fast-tracked that within three years, he became the third-youngest player to play for Barcelona in the UEFA Youth League when he played against Viktoria Plzen in 2022. Only Lamine Yamal and Illaix Moriba were younger.
His rapid ascent was getting impossible to ignore. Within the next six months, the steps became quicker. He was training with the first team in April 2023, a professional contract was signed in July and he made his league debut against Real Betis recently in a 4-2 win.
His full Barcelona debut came in Copa del Rey against Unionistas, where he assisted a goal in just 45 minutes of playing time.
Now 17, the stage is set for Cubarsi as an established first-team member to explode and put himself alongside the likes of Gavi, Pedri, and Yamal in terms of being recognised as a world-class talent in the making.
Pau Cubarsi potential
There’s a certain aura attached to La Masia and their ever-churning of football wonderkids. This is what makes it one of the best academies in the world.
Cubarsi’s case is no different. If anything, he could be the defender with the biggest potential of them all, which is some statement considering the likes of Ronald Araujo, Carles Puyol, and Gerard Pique all came from La Masia.
FC Barcelona coaches certainly treat him highly. It is easier to debut a young attacker in the first team because mistakes up front don’t lead to direct goals for the opposition. Alongside defensive midfield, centre-back is the position which is the most difficult to make a debut at.
A momentary lapse of concentration, an inch mistake in positioning, and the top-level forward will punish you. Therefore, to start Cubarsi against Real Betis, a well-oiled attack, shows how much Xavi trusts the player.
At his best, Cubarsi can be an archetypal modern centre-back which is to be expected from someone whose footballing education has been at La Masia.
We decode his playing style now.
Skills and style of play
Comfort on the ball and technical skills in abundance is the first thing you expect from a player coming through at La Masia, regardless of position.
True to form, Cubarsi has those in abundance. He is the ideal ball-playing centre-back for teams who want to play that way.
The biggest thing which immediately stands out from watching Pau Cubarsi’s style of play is how he always looks to play the ball forward. One can safely assume that once the sample size is big enough, he’s going to rank near the top in terms of progressive passes.
Even in just one-and-a-half appearance, his chemistry with Frenkie de Jong is clear to see. The Dutchman drops between the centre-backs to collect and move forward with the ball. However, with Cubarsi stationed in the middle, it gives De Jong the freedom to bypass one line of the opposition press just by standing beyond it as Cubarsi repeatedly looked for him.
Another skill of Cubarsi is how press-resistant he is. In fact, he invites the press when he has the ball, only to drop a shoulder and evade it, leaving the opposition shape scrambling to recover. It is a quality in the most elite ball players and for Cubarsi to have it at just 17 is phenomenal.
There are many things he can work on, especially in the traditional defensive sense. For example, he can look too eager to win the ball back sometimes. This leads to unnecessary fouls and smart forwards can bait a foul out of him. However, considering his age, he is a far more polished forward than a player is expected to be.
Pau Cubarsi at FC Barcelona
Unsurprisingly, Cubarsi has a lot of growing up to do, literally. However, under Xavi, he has one of the best managers he could hope for.
The former Barcelona midfielder has expertly handled the rise of this golden generation from La Masia. In fact, he can sometimes be guilty of almost relying on the kids too much, as recent injuries to Pedri and Gavi have shown.
What will work for Cubarsi is that, unlike midfield, Xavi does have many options in defence. In Araujo, Kounde, Roberto, and more, there is no urgency for Xavi to immediately make Cubarsi an indispensable part of the first team.
He can afford to blood Cubarsi in slowly and have him learn from another La Masia graduate in Ronald Araujo.
However, if Cubarsi continues his meteoric rise, the choice could be taken away from Xavi’s hands where he’s forced to put him in the first-team straightaway.
For now, he should remain a part of the first-team picture instead of going back to play for Barcelona Athletic (B team). Even training with the first team on a regular basis with the odd appearance will be a more fruitful experience for the prodigy than playing for the B team, the level of which he has already outgrown.
Some feat for a 17-year-old, but that’s what you expect from La Masia at this point!