Barcelona academy talent already seen as a leader in the locker room

While Raphinha stole the show with his Man of the Match performance against Real Madrid in the Spanish Super Cup final, Marc Casado was an unsung hero of sorts for Barcelona.

The young midfielder enjoyed a brilliant game even with Barcelona getting outnumbered for a major part of the match.

Casado’s sublime display has been backed by statistics, as he ended the game as the leader in several key metrics. However, it wasn’t just his performance and quality that stood out that night.

Casado seen as a leader

A recent report from Alex Pintanel has revealed that Casado has emerged as a pivotal leader in Barcelona’s first team.

The youngster was not initially expected to play such a central role, but his dedication and performance have changed the narrative under coach Hansi Flick.

Casadó’s leadership qualities were notably showcased against Real Madrid where, following the expulsion of goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny, he took charge.

Casado played like a true leader against Real Madrid (Photo by Yasser Bakhsh/Getty Images)

With more than 30 minutes left on the clock, Casado played a key role in communicating tactical adjustments to his teammates.

His interaction with key players like Lamine Yamal, Robert Lewandowski, Ronald Araujo, and Jules Kounde, and his strategic discussions with Flick from the sidelines, underlined his growing influence within the squad.

His teammates have affectionately nicknamed him ‘pitbull’ or ‘piranha’ due to his aggressive and tenacious style of play, but it’s his leadership off the ball that has truly set him apart.

His actions, like the encouraging push to Araujo or the enthusiastic hug to Marcus Sorg after being substituted, show a player who leads by example.

Therefore, simply put, Casado looks all ready to fill the hole that was once left by Sergio Busquets. However, it is important that the youngster does not get carried and continues his rapid progress.