Barcelona 17-year-old prodigy now considered a first-team player; won’t play for reserves

The past few months have seen Pau Cubarsi explode at Barcelona, with the teenage defender becoming a regular fixture in the first-team squad under Xavi Hernandez.

The young centre-back made his debut in January, when he was 16, and has just gone from strength to strength, consolidating his place in the senior team.

Cubarsi essentially considered a first-team player

Now, Javi Miguel of AS is reporting that for all intents and purposes, Pau Cubarsi is now a first-team player for Barcelona and will not go back to play for the reserve team, Barça Atletic.

The 17-year-old started the season with Juvenil A, but was soon called up to the Barcelona Atletic roster by Rafa Marquez, where he went on to make nine league appearances this term.

It was in January earlier this year, in the Copa del Rey clash against Unionistas de Salamanca, that the centre-half made his senior debut for the Blaugrana.

Since then, Cubarsi has played a total of ten matches for Xavi’s side, even contributing with an assist. Of those ten appearances, seven have been starts, indicating how highly the coaching staff rates him.

Thanks to his ball-playing ability and penchant for making line-breaking passes from defence, Xavi & co. already see him as an integral member of the senior setup.

As such, Cubarsi is now unofficially seen as a first-team member for all intents and purposes. In fact, the youngster is expected to start tonight against RCD Mallorca with Ronald Araujo suspended.

Given his high ceiling, Barcelona are already working on renewing his contract which expires in 2026.