Pau Cubarsi has enjoyed a meteoric rise in his career. He now appears a seasoned elite centre-back, yet he is only 19, having turned 19 less than a month ago. The FC Barcelona defender spoke to 'L'Équipe' about his rapid progression, recounting some curious anecdotes and lavishing praise on teammate Lamine Yamal.

"We've had almost identical professional trajectories," the centre-back declared. "He progressed even faster towards the end. It's very easy to play with him. You just give him the ball, and he decides the match. From a young age, he's possessed that special quality, that ability to settle a game. I remember once in training, during a one-on-one, he dribbled past me, I slipped and ended up on the ground. He spent the entire week teasing me about it."

In one memorable anecdote, Cubarsi recounted the day a Red Star player's studs gashed his face. "I went in for a tackle and lowered my head; the opposing player lifted his foot and caught my face. I saw I was bleeding, and my teammates grew concerned, immediately calling for the doctor," Cubarsi began.

"At half-time, he told me I'd need stitches. My first request was to take a 'selfie' – partly to send to my mum to reassure her I was okay, but also as a souvenir. To feature against Real Sociedad just a few days later, I had to wear a protective helmet, which my teammates joked made me look like a McDonald's employee," he chuckled.

Cubarsi made his Barca debut on 18 January 2024, in a Copa del Rey match against Unionistas. He admitted that public speaking proved a tougher challenge than playing itself. "We were playing a Copa del Rey match in Salamanca against Unionistas. At half-time, Xavi sent me to warm up. Just before I came on, he grabbed my arm and told me he had complete faith in me. On the pitch, I felt comfortable and calm. The hardest part came afterwards: the interviews, the microphones, all those cameras. I've always spoken Catalan with my family and friends; I practised Castilian at school."

Some teammates seemed genuinely surprised by his early arrival on the scene. "Four days later, the day after my full debut in La Liga against Real Betis, Xavi congratulated me and wished me a happy birthday in front of the whole squad. Robert Lewandowski then came up to me and asked: 'Are you really 17?' He simply couldn't believe what he was seeing. Perhaps I still had a bit of a baby face," he mused.

Cubarsi then recalled another pivotal moment: his starting debut in the UEFA Champions League. "Before the Champions League last-16 second leg against Napoli, Xavi told me I would start, even though I hadn't played a single minute in the first leg. I faced Victor Osimhen, one of the world's best strikers. I focused on being aggressive yet calm, defending resolutely and distributing the ball effectively from the back. We had some truly compelling duels. When they informed me in the dressing room that I'd been named Man of the Match, I simply couldn't believe it."

It's not hard to discern his defensive inspirations within the 'blaugrana' ranks. "My idols have always been Carles Puyol and Gerard Pique. I tried to absorb Puyol's character and his leadership style. From Pique, I aimed to learn about his distribution and positioning. That greatly shaped me into the player I am today. I also really admire Virgil van Dijk – he's a benchmark for his composure, leadership, and how he initiates play from the back."

Lamine Yamal

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