Barcelona 17-year-old gem commanding immense respect in the locker room

Pau Cubarsi was once again in the spotlight when Barcelona secured a 3-1 victory over Napoli to advance to the quarterfinal stage of the Champions League.

Despite Barcelona scoring three goals on the night, it was Pau Cubarsi who was handed the Man of the Match, particularly for his exquisite defensive work.

At just 17, Cubarsi showcased immense maturity and work ethic, containing proven European stars such as Victor Osimhen and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia to help Barcelona retain their advantage and ultimately seal the tie.

Cubarsi: A respectable figure in the dressing room

A day after his heroics in the Champions League, Mundo Deportivo has come up with a detailed piece on Cubarsi and his influence in the Barcelona dressing room.

Despite being 17, the Spaniard commands a lot of respect in the Barcelona camp. On the pitch, he looks like a veteran with years of experience, even though the youngster had only made his Champions League debut last night.

Off the pitch, however, Cubarsi is a down-to-earth personality, who showcases humility and keeps a low profile.

Cubarsi had no problems dealing with Napoli attackers last night (Photo by Alex Caparros/Getty Images)

The La Masia gem is not someone who enjoys the spotlight and likes to keep things polite with the rest of his teammates. His humility has made him a respectable figure in the Barcelona dressing room.

But most importantly, Cubarsi personifies Barcelona’s values. He has stayed true to his teaching at La Masia and is a great example for budding youngsters, both on and off the pitch.

Cubarsi’s methodical approach

In addition to his heartthrob personality in the dressing room, Cubarsi is a technician who likes to analyse the game.

As such, the young centre-back usually watches a lot of football videos to understand the game better. His ability to read the game was showcased during his performance against Napoli and indeed, against Mallorca on the weekend.

Cubarsi is unlikely to back down anytime soon either. He has an important task on Saturday when Barcelona face Atletico Madrid, with attackers such as Antoine Griezmann and Alvaro Morata awaiting him at Wanda Metropolitano.