Who is Pau Cubarsi? Barcelona’s 17-year-old defender labelled ‘the next Pique’

Updated: 28 Mar 2024 14:47 GMT
6 min read

If there are any positives to come out of this torrid season for Barcelona, you’d imagine Pau Cubarsi is high up there.

The 17-year-old sensation has quickly ascended to the first-team of the Blaugrana despite his young age.

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It’s very rare for youngsters to swiftly earn a place in Barcelona's first team. And it’s a welcome change for Barcelona, as a top-tier centre-back product from La Masia has been a distant memory for years.

But Cubarsi has reminded them what a superb academy they do have and a string of impressive displays have secured his spot in the starting line-up.

But who exactly is Cubarsi?

What club does Pau Cubarsi play for?

Cubarsi started his career with Girona before a move to Barcelona in 2018. He progressed through the academy and made his first-team debut in January 2024 against Unionistas de Salamanca in the Copa del Rey.

What position does Pau Cubarsi play in?

Cubarsi is a right-footed central defender who can play on either side of the middle pair.

How good is Pau Cubarsi?

Similar to many La Masia graduates, Cubarsi's roots trace back to Catalonia.

Barcelona scouts identified his talent at the age of seven and brought him into the La Masia academy, where exhibited leadership qualities by captaining various youth teams, including the Under-13s, U-15s, and U-17s squads.

© IMAGO - Pau Cubarsi is just 17 years old

After a great showing in the UEFA Youth League in 2022, Xavi began integrating Cubarsi into first-team training sessions alongside other special talents such as Lamine Yamal.

This year he is a staple in the first-team squad, forming a formidable partnership with Ronald Araujo.

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Standing at 6'1" and still growing, Cubarsi has all the physical attributes required for top-level defending. But he also possesses an exceptional passing ability. His distribution from deep positions have drawn comparisons to Gerard Pique. His ability to consistently find his teammates in advanced positions is nothing short of sensational.

It’s been just 13 matches in the first-team at the time of writing, but there is still enough evidence to suggest that Cubarsi is headed for the very top.