FC Barcelona have uncovered a gem in the defensive midfield
- Barcelona has prioritized the signing of a big-name attacker this summer, placing their defensive needs on the back burner.
- As it turns out, the club's solution to their defensive shortcomings is yet another home-grown youngster.
By Rohan Borges
Having spent their entire transfer window chasing two of Europe’s most attractive attackers, Barcelona haven't yet addressed their porous defensive midfield.
However, young Marc Bernal is emerging as an exciting prospect in the pivot position, following the recent trend of talent to come through the ‘La Masia’ academy pipeline. The 17-year-old defensive midfielder, already drawing comparisons to elite players in his position, has made waves during Barcelona's preseason tour, where his performances have caught the eye of fans and football pundits alike.
Despite his youth and relative inexperience, Bernal has shown remarkable maturity and poise on the pitch, which has thoroughly impressed Barca’s head coach Hansi Flick. The Spaniard delivered a stand-out performance in Barcelona's preseason victory over arch-rivals Real Madrid, completing 35/35 passes in the first half alone and finishing the match with a 100% pass accuracy.
His balance of diligence in space and composure under pressure is rare for a player his age, and it has earned him the nickname "Little Rodri" amongst certain pockets of hardcore Culers, a nod to Manchester City’s midfield maestro, and likely Ballon D’or finalist.
Bernal’s ability to read the game's tempo while playing at his own unshakable pace makes him a unique weapon in the middle of the pitch. His blend of defensive solidity and attacking chops have not only pleased the Barca coaching staff but also reportedly caught the attention of Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola, who witnessed Bernal’s talents firsthand during Barcelona's preseason opener against the Premier League champions.
" Marc Bernal has seemed extraordinary to me, how he controls, how he plays..."
- Pep Guardiola
Barcelona's summer transfer window has been marked by their pursuit of high-profile attacking talents like Dani Olmo and Nico Williams. However, despite his youth, one of the club's most glaring issues last season was a lack of a reliable holding midfielder — a role that Bernal seems more than capable of filling.
As Nico Williams rumors have gone cold in the past week, Barcelona has shifted its attention to bolstering its midfield. Euro 2024 Golden Boot joint-winner Dani Olmo has reportedly agreed to personal terms with the Catalan giants. Meanwhile, President Joan Laporta is still working to meet the demands of RB Leipzig, who recently rejected FC Barcelona's third formal offer of a €60M transfer fee plus add-ons. for the Spanish star.
It's no secret that FC Barcelona craves a big splash this summer — after all, a big splash is required to have any feasible shot of competing with Real Madrid this season — but Barca haven't completely dismissed the defensive deficiencies that impeded them last year. The board has toyed with the idea of bringing in French veteran N'Golo Kante or 22-year-old Argentine Ezequiel Fernandez on a bargain, but it's become evident to most supporters and media members that the solutions to Blaugrana's problems are largely internal.
Not only Marc Bernal but Marc Casado, Pau Victor, Pablo Torre, and others have all pitched compelling cases for consistent minutes with the first team. Head coach Hansi Flick faces a challenging yet exciting dilemma: balancing the development of these emerging talents on the training grounds with the opportunity for them to blossom through real-game experience. It’s a tough decision — but one that underscores the depth of talent at his disposal.
2023 breakouts Lamine Yamal and Fermin Lopez, each amplifying their hype with international success, are living testament to the quality of Barcelona’s acclaimed academy program. Marc Bernal’s performances so far suggest that he could be another unlikely solution to one of the club’s biggest weaknesses.