Barcelona’s latest breakthrough academy ace could earn Spain call-up – report

Barcelona may have begun the 2023-24 season with relative over-staffing at centre-back. Close to eight months later, the players in contention at centre-back have now diversified and have their own niches in Xavi’s starting XI.

Jules Kounde, who began the season as a starting option in central defence, is now the team’s bonafide right-back with Joao Cancelo shifting to the left. Andreas Christensen meanwhile, serves as the pivot for Xavi’s setup.

The diversification of roles has allowed La Masia starlet Pau Cubarsi to solidify his name in the manager’s dynamics, and he is now one of the team’s regular starters alongside Ronald Araujo. His growth in recent months has been astronomical.

National Team calling?

According to reports from SPORT, Cubarsi’s rapid progress with Barcelona has not gone unnoticed by the RFEF.

Luis de La Fuente, the manager of the Spanish national team is impressed by the teenage defender and could call him up for international duty in the upcoming window.

Cubarsi’s name is already on the preliminary list of the Spanish tactician and places him well to travel with La Roja to take on Brazil and Colombia in March.

After all, he has always been highly regarded by the Federation for his behaviour and quality and his displays under Xavi have only served as a catalyst.

Cubarsi has played for Spain at the U17 level. (Photo by Burak Kara/Getty Images for DFB)

Cubarsi has already represented Spain at the U17 level and was a regular starter in the U17 World Cup. He was expected to be part of Spain’s U21 team for the Olympic Games, but could now skip the rung and move to the senior side.

List expected soon

SPORT add that the La Roja coach’s final squad list is expected on March 15th, and it remains to be seen if Cubarsi does indeed make the cut.

All signs point towards his inclusion, nevertheless, especially considering that this is the first window Spain can afford to give auditions to new names. After all, they will be playing friendly fixtures and not any qualifiers for the first time in many months.

At just 17 years of age, it remains to be seen if the manager gives Cubarsi a debut during the two clashes. It will be a great exposure for the youngster, regardless, for his quality places him well to be a part of the international team for over the next decade.