Since taking over the reins of the Barcelona side, Xavi Hernandez has handed opportunities to several young talents coming through the ranks at the club.
Lamine Yamal, Fermin Lopez, Marc Casado, Angel Alarcon, and Aleix Garrido are some of the prospects who made their first-team debuts for the Catalans during Xavi’s tenure.
And, there could be more in tow today when Barcelona take on Granada at Los Carmenes, with two talented forwards – Pau Victor and Marc Guiu – getting called up to the squad list.
Xavi, Deco like Marc Guiu
Ahead of the game, Mundo Deportivo is reporting that Barcelona manager Xavi Hernandez and sporting director Deco both like Marc Guiu very much and rate him very highly.
Guiu, 17, has already had a taste of first-team football, albeit not in an official game, when he played in the friendly against Vissel Kobe in June earlier this year.
The teenager, who has been with Barça since he was seven years old, played the entire second half against the Japanese outfit and almost scored with a header.
Not only does Xavi count him among the ones to watch for, but sporting director Deco also has had an eye on him for a while.
Indeed, the former midfielder had been tracking Guiu’s progress even before he became the director at Barcelona after watching him in action for the club’s youth teams and the Spanish Under-17 national team where he helped his team to the semi-finals by scoring four goals.
What does Guiu offer?
A strong, tall, and powerful forward Guiu is a threat in the air and is a clinical finisher which makes him a dangerous presence inside the penalty box.
The 17-year-old has scored five goals for Juvenil A this season – four in the league competition and one in the UEFA Youth League.
It remains to be seen if he does get an opportunity tonight.
