Ligue 1 breakout star openly declares dream to play for Barcelona: ‘Would love to play there in my prime’ | OneFootball

Barcelona have long been one of the most admired clubs in world football, inspiring countless young players across different leagues and countries. 

And one of the latest footballers to openly express his admiration for the Catalan giants is Pablo Pagis.

The 23-year-old winger, who currently plays for FC Lorient, recently revealed that playing for Barcelona remains his biggest dream as a professional footballer.

Pagis did not hide his feelings when discussing the club that shaped his love for the game growing up. Speaking to EuroSport, as relayed by Mundo Deportivo, he said,

“For me, Barcelona is the best. It’s really the team, the club where I would love to play in my prime, as they say. 

“It’s the team that marked my childhood, really. I watched their games constantly. With MSN (Messi, Suárez, Neymar), it was incredible. 

“And it’s true that I fell in love with that club. I’ve always liked Barça, a team that plays a lot of soccer, and I’ve always been attached to that team,” he said.

A life-long Barcelona fan

The French winger also revealed that his connection with Barcelona began very early, explaining that his first football shirt was actually from the Blaugrana club.

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Pagis grew up watching some of the greatest players in Barcelona’s history dominate European football, particularly during the golden era led by legendary midfielders and attackers.

Speaking about that generation, he praised the iconic Barcelona side that featured some of the most influential players of the modern game.

“The Barça of Xavi, Iniesta, Messi, and Busquets. That was football at its finest. Frankly, I didn’t enjoy it enough. At least I didn’t. 

“Every time I saw that team play, it was incredible,” he remembered.

While his admiration for Barcelona is clear, Pagis is currently focused on building his career in France.

In 21 appearances for Lorient, he has already scored eight goals and provided one assist, performances that have attracted attention from clubs outside France.

Reports suggest that several teams from the Bundesliga are monitoring the attacker closely, with interest growing as his development continues.

Pagis is currently under contract with Lorient until 2027, meaning any club interested in signing him would likely need to negotiate with the French side.