Cu-cu-cubarsí! 17-Year-Old Captain Ready for the Showdown Against Napoli

The crowd chanted his name, reminiscent of Puyol’s defensive prowess in his prime with the first team. Xavi marvels at how the 17-year-old appears to be a seasoned veteran.

“With the season on the line this Tuesday,” warns the academy player. Cubarsí (17 years) and Lamine (16) have become the new flag bearers for Barcelona.

Deco, commenting on Lamine and Cubarsí’s starting roles: “Football is played based on merit.”

“At just 17, he’s playing like a captain. Today, he knew he could lose duels against Muriqi and Larin, but he won them all. I would highlight his intelligence and the calmness he brings to finding the open man. He plays with the authority of a veteran and is truly exceptional.”

Days away from the most crucial match of the season against Napoli in the Champions League, Xavi Hernández can’t hide his astonishment at Pau Cubarsí, another case of remarkable precocity from the youth academy. With Napoli awaiting on Tuesday, the Champions League, the grand stage, Xavi is inclined to give him a starting spot after being a substitute in the first leg.

The New Battle Cry “Cu-cu-cubarsí” echoed through Montjuïc yesterday, a battle cry reminiscent of the days when Camp Nou surrendered to Puyol’s epic performances. Cubarsí is another product of La Masia, and like Puyi in his time, he revels in defending. However, while Carles always exposed his body to the tension of emergencies, Cubarsí chooses his battles wisely. He plays with the serenity born of intelligence and tries to anticipate the wounds of war.

Against Mallorca, he once again showcased excellent ball distribution, but more importantly, he delivered top-notch defensive plays. Despite not being a towering center-back, he embraces duels, engages with forwards, and wins battles through determination.

Cubarsí combines Eric Garcia’s ball-playing fundamentals with the defensive instinct of top-notch center-backs. “I always give my 200%. It doesn’t matter who I have to mark; I simply look at the strengths and weaknesses of the opposing forwards,” he said after the match on ‘Esport3.’

In the game against Mallorca, the center-back recovered 14 balls, rejected 8, and achieved a 93% passing accuracy. It was his best defensive performance with the first team, signaling the importance of the upcoming clash against Napoli. In the first leg, Xavi opted for Koundé, Araujo, Iñigo Martínez, and Cancelo. We’ll see what happens in the return leg.

Cubarsí has accumulated 8 starts in LaLiga (6 wins and two draws) and carries the ambition of the elite for the Champions League: “This Tuesday, the season is on the line,” he began. To emphasize the demands of the jersey, he added, “LaLiga is not thrown away. We are Barcelona, and we will fight until the end.”