Marc Casadó is making strides in a dream season for him

Marc Casadó is having a very sweet moment. This season he is already a Barça first team player for all intents and purposes, but not only that, he is a fundamental player for the Barça team. The one from Sant Pere de Vilamajor is offering an incredible performance, something that has led him to be called up with the senior Spanish National Team and even play as a starter in one of the matches.

Last season was not easy for Marc Casadó

"Many have told me that almost 50 [games] in the last two years. I played 4 games. I warmed up sometimes but not many. At the beginning of last season I had it worse; later I couldn't play for the reserve team either. If I couldn't to play with the first team, I wanted to play with the reserve team, and I did it at the end of the season; I wanted to play to continue learning and that has helped me a lot for now. At first Xavi told me that but then not so much," he responded. the midfielder to a question about his calls without minutes during last season in an interview with the COPE network.

Despite the lack of opportunities with the first team, Marc did not give up. Captain and leader of Barça Atlètic, he was one of the fundamental pieces in reaching the final of the coPlayoff for promotion to the Second Division. Despite not getting the Barça reserve team to move up a category, he grew and learned a lot from Rafa Márquez, who said the following about the youth squad: "Give me eleven Casadós."

He didn't convince Xavi, but he did convince Flick

Hansi Flick detected the need to reinforce some areas of the field upon his arrival at Can Barça, among which was the center of the field. However, everything changed when he saw two young players from the reserve team train and play in preseason with the first team. They were Marc Bernal and Marc Casadó. Such was his interest in both that he opted for them as the starting double pivot in Mestalla, on the first day of LaLiga.

Unfortunately, Bernal's progression was slowed by a serious injury. He tore the anterior cruciate ligament and the external meniscus in his left knee against Rayo Vallecano on the third day of the domestic championship. For his part, Casadó remained a key piece of the culé engine room.

Thus, the youth player accumulates 1,733 minutes spread over 15 games. He has only not played in two games. In his minutes on the field he has shown how complete he is as a footballer. He recovers an average of 3.66 balls per game and has already given 5 assists. It is a sign that, despite being a positional pivot, he is a true all-rounder.

Called up and started with Spain

Although during the national team break in October he was summoned by Santi Denia for the under-21 team, in November the call came from the senior team for Casadó. He played 20 minutes in the first match, against Denmark, due to an injury to Martín Zubimendi. However, he started against Switzerland in the second game. 

Regarding his performance as a starter with Spain, he simply did his thing: 91% pass accuracy, won 11 of 12 duels, was successful in two attempted dribbles and made 3 tackles. He was, in these last three sections, the best of the entire Spanish National Team. 

It is clear that Marc Casadó is a footballer who aims very high. He was somewhat obscured last season, but this season he is being one of the best midfielders in Europe. Barça has the pivot it needed so much at home.