If there is a player who has surprised with his remarkable breakthrough in the first team this 2024/25 season, that player is Marc Bernal. The youngster from Berga, at just 17 years old, has managed to become one of the cornerstones in Hansi Flick's scheme, excelling as one of the pillars in the double pivot. Why? Because he has shown a remarkable ability to direct play in the heart of the Culé midfield, with a simplicity that many compare to that of Sergio Busquets, high praise for a young player who is just starting his professional football career.
In addition to this, before making the leap to the first team, the promising midfielder built a notable career in the lower divisions of FC Barcelona, joining the club in 2014. Here, besides standing out for his exceptional physique and the qualities that currently position him as a potential star pivot, he demonstrated an unexpected goal-scoring ability for someone accustomed to playing in central midfield or at most as an attacking midfielder.
Marc Bernal's Impressive Goal-Scoring Records during His Time at La Masia
In this regard, 'SPORT' revealed statistics that highlight Marc Bernal's impressive goal-scoring ability. Adding up his spells in various La Masia categories, including Football 7 (Pre-benjamin, Benjamin, and Alevin) and Football 11 (Infantil B and A, Cadete B and A, Juvenil B and A, and Barça Atlètic), he scored a total of 280 goals in 281 appearances. These numbers are truly remarkable and are distributed as follows:
| CATEGORY | SEASON | MATCHES | GOALS | GOAL AVERAGE |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pre-benjamin | 2014/15 | 28 | 58 | 2.07 |
| Benjamin C | 2015/16 | 29 | 50 | 1.72 |
| Benjamin A | 2016/17 | 35 | 39 | 1.11 |
| Alevin C | 2017/18 | 30 | 46 | 1.53 |
| Alevin A | 2018/19 | 31 | 50 | 1.61 |
| Infantil B | 2019/20 | 18 | 4 | 0.22 |
| Infantil A | 2020/21 | 13 | 7 | 0.53 |
| Cadete B and Cadete A | 2021/2023 | 56 | 23 | 0.41 |
| Juvenil B | 2023/24 | 5 | 0 | 0 |
| Juvenil A | 2023/24 | 5 | 1 | 0.2 |
| Barça Atlètic | 2023/24 | 31 | 2 | 0.06 |
Now, it remains to be seen whether he can unleash this great goal-scoring ability with FC Barcelona in the future, a matter that currently seems perhaps a bit more complex due to the necessary adaptation process to a new and much more demanding football category, as demanded by professional football. At the same time, he often receives the ball in the base of the midfield, far from goal-scoring positions. However, it wouldn't be surprising if he gradually starts attempting shots from medium to long distances with his cultured left foot, not ruling out the danger he also poses in aerial play due to his height of 1.91 meters.