Barcelona academy whizkid wants to stay at club despite Premier League approaches

Marc Bernal is one of many Barcelona youth players looking to follow in the footsteps of Pau Cubarsi and Lamine Yamal and make an impression in the first team.

At just 16, the young defensive midfielder is regarded as one of the most talented players in the Barcelona academy right now.

At such a young age, he is already a crucial member of Barcelona’s subsidiary squad and is rated quite highly by coach Rafa Marquez.

Interest from top European clubs

Needless to say, Bernal’s rapid growth has not gone unnoticed, with several European clubs keeping a close eye on his development.

According to Mundo Deportivo, Bernal has already received approaches from several clubs across the Premier League, Bundesliga and Serie A.

All of these clubs have come up with lucrative proposals for the 16-year-old, who is regarded as a prospect for the future by Xavi Hernandez.

The Barcelona coach has already called up young Bernal in several first-team training sessions and believes he could make an impact in the years to come.

Bernal determined to continue at Barça

Bernal is aware of the interest across Europe, but the youngster has no desire to leave Barcelona. He wants to continue his development at Camp Nou.

Bernal is not too worried about his prospects on the senior side. He wants to further develop himself as a footballer before making a push for the first team.

Barcelona, for their part, are ready to reward Bernal with a new contract. The Spaniard’s current deal at Camp Nou expires in 2026 and has a release clause worth just €6 million.

The current contract does come with the option to extend the deal for a further year, with an option to add two more optional years – as is the norm for any youth player.

But the idea is to hand a new contract altogether and tie down his long-term future at the club.