By Daniel Casallas Beltrán
Last season, Lamine Yamal took the world by surprise. Not even the most optimistic FC Barcelona fans thought of such a magnificent rise from a 16-year-old wonderkid who made his debut for the first team at the age of 15.
The plan was for him to be more involved with the Barcelona Atlètic in the Spanish third division, but still train with the first team. However, the unexpected happened.
PSG released the €50 million release clause of Ousmane Dembele. Raphinha became the only right winger in the squad, and with limited funds for a replacement, Xavi decided to trust Yamal to replace Dembele. Fast forward a bit less than a year, and Lamine Yamal is one of Barcelona’s best players, star of the Spanish national team that won the Euros over the summer, and one of the most electric wingers in the world.
But now that Lamine Yamal is a world star, who can follow his steps and prove that age is just a number?
This series will explore some of the young players that may break into the first team and become a household name in one of the best teams in the world.
But first, don’t look away from La Masia, arguably the best academy in world football.
FC Barcelona has been looking for a Sergio Busquets replacement for many years now, even when he was still at the club. Oriol Romeu has left on loan to Girona. But weirdly, the Barcelona board do not seem to be looking for a holding midfielder in the transfer market. And Marc Bernal may be the reason why.
The 17-year-old Spanish midfielder has been at La Masia for 10 years, and last season broke into the second team and played 31 games (27 as a starter) under Rafa Márquez. Recently renewed until 2026 plus three years optional, and with another contract renewal awaiting for when he turns 18 in May, Bernal may be the answer to Barcelona’s problems in midfield.
Former Barcelona manager Xavi Hernandez used many players in the ‘Busquets role’, a deep-lying playmaker in the holding midfielder position capable of dictating the pace of the game, but none of them convinced. Xavi used Frenkie de Jong and central defender Eric Garcia in the role, before requesting the signing of Martin Zubimendi and Oriol Romeu. Once the latter signed, he impressed in preseason but then remained on the bench before going back to Girona for the current season. Xavi insisted with de Jong, but also used Ilkay Gündogan in that position, until Andreas Christensen took on the role.
Now that Xavi was sacked, and the German coach Hansi Flick took on the role, there were countless rumours that Barcelona would look for a signing for the ‘Busquets role’. Names like Joshua Kimmich, Martin Zubimendi, or Amadou Onana have been linked with a move to the club. But once preseason started, those rumours faded, as Flick is said to be extremely impressed with Bernal.
A regular with the U-17 Spanish national team, he has mostly played as a right-sided midfielder in his youth career, although he has also played in the ‘Busquets role’. Standing at 1.91m of height, Bernal’s ability to dictate play has been often compared to the likes of Rodri or Busquets himself. After Barcelona’s preseason clash with Manchester City, none other than Pep Guardiola hailed Bernal as ‘extraordinary’, praising his control and intelligent play—high praise from one of football’s greatest minds, former coach of Busquets and current coach of Rodri.
During preseason, he started three of the four games that Barcelona played. 74 minutes against Manchester City, 77 minutes against Real Madrid, 88 minutes against AS Monaco, and a second half cameo after replacing Andreas Christensen at halftime against AC Milan.
As the 2024/2025 season starts, the stage is set for Marc Bernal to step into the spotlight. With injuries sidelining key players like Gavi, Pedri, and Frenkie de Jong, and Fermin Lopez’s late return from his participation in the Euros and the Olympic Games, Bernal has a golden opportunity to leave his mark on the first team.
Much like Lamine Yamal, Bernal has the potential to continue demonstrating why La Masia is the best academy in the world.
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