"Bernal has been widely framed as the next Sergio Busquets emerging out of La Masia: a pivot who is tactically disciplined, positionally astute and secure in circulation. However, ever since his academy days, he has always been more than that. For all his positional brilliance and defensive awareness, scoring goals has always been a part of his identity."
"Bernal scored an astonishing 280 goals in 286 games across his years in La Masia. In the U-8 team, he scored 58 goals in 28 matches, 50 in 29 for Benjamin C, and 39 in 35 for Benjamin A. Those are not figures you brush aside as a quirky footnote."
"As Bernal moved up the ladder, of course, the context changed. The spaces grew smaller, the game grew stricter, and his responsibilities deepened. He operated as a box-to-box midfielder in latter years, but the goals continued to flow. The connection to goals never truly disappeared. It simply became more selective and more tactical."
Marc Bernal's recent goals have surprised the outside world, but Barcelona should recognize this as a rediscovery rather than a surprise. While widely compared to Sergio Busquets as a tactically disciplined pivot, Bernal has always been more than a defensive midfielder. Throughout his La Masia career, he demonstrated consistent goal-scoring ability, netting 280 goals in 286 academy games. His scoring prowess remained evident as he progressed through youth levels, including 11 goals in 28 Cadete B appearances and 12 in 28 for Cadete A. As competition intensified and spaces decreased, his goal contributions became more selective and tactical rather than disappearing. Barcelona must recognize that Bernal's current scoring is not a new skill but rather a continuation of his established identity as a midfielder with genuine goal-scoring instincts.
Read at Barca Universal
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