The young Barcelona talent could have been playing for Manchester City today, but the English club was not interested. Today, he plays for FC Barcelona, where he has found great success under Xavi Hernández
At just 17 years old, Pau Cubarsí has become a key central defender at FC Barcelona, appearing in 19 games for the Catalans (16 as a starter). Injuries and other circumstances led Xavi Hernández to count on him, and he is now an important part of the club.
The defender is in the news this Saturday because, as reported by the SPORT newspaper, Manchester City could have signed him last summer through Girona, today’s opponent.
The sporting director, Quique Cárcel, spotted him in the youth team, but the player was not entirely convinced by the offer. Instead, he chose to stay in Barcelona, and that seems to have been a good decision, as his career has really taken off recently.
With the many impressive performances he has been able to deliver recently, he has secured a regular spot in the first team’s defense. Currently, there is no indication that this will change in the near future.
Xavi’s decision to move Danish player Andreas Christensen forward to the defensive midfield has created additional space in the defense. This has benefited Cubarsí, as it has resulted in him getting more and more playing time this season.
The 17-year-old talent has a contract with Barcelona until the summer of 2026. Therefore, it is highly likely that it will be a priority for the Catalan club to start negotiations on a new and more long-term contract soon, as they do not want to lose him.