Former Barcelona striker talks Flick, Raphinha, Olmo, registration saga: ‘There was a lot of tension’ | OneFootball

Pau Víctor may have moved on to a new chapter with SC Braga, but his breakout season at FC Barcelona remains a pivotal part of his career trajectory.

After a brief stint that saw him win La Liga, the Copa del Rey, and the Spanish Super Cup, the 23-year-old striker was sold to the Portuguese side for €12 million – a fee that raised eyebrows but hasn’t weighed him down.

In a recent interview with MARCA, the young striker talked about his brief spell at Barcelona, his relationship with Hansi Flick, and the intense registration difficulties he faced in Catalonia.

Pau Victor looks back at Barcelona spell

When Victor joined Braga, the €12 million transfer fee raised a lot of eyebrows. The Spaniard, though, is not worried about the price tag.

“I’m not the most expensive signing in football history,” says the forward, who has scored eight goals since joining the club.

Reflecting on how much his life has transformed over the last twelve months, from fighting for a spot at Barça to becoming a key figure at Braga, he admitted he is happy at Braga.

“Yes. It’s changed me a lot. Last season, I was in a privileged position. Not everyone can say they’ve played for Barça.

“It was an exceptional year, and I have very fond memories. Now I’m happy, enjoying myself, in Braga. We have an incredible team, and I love the city. It’s easy to live here,” he said.

Three years ago, Victor was plying his trade at Sabadell. The leap to winning titles with Barcelona is something he still processes with his inner circle.

“No. Sometimes I talk about it with my family. If 3-4 years ago someone had told me where I am right now and everything I’ve experienced, winning titles with Barça, it would have been impossible to believe,” he said.

Pau Victor is enjoying a good time at Braga. (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)

Having arrived at Barcelona as a prolific scorer – he was the ‘Pichichi’ of the Primera RFEF with Barça Atletic – Victor is hungry to replicate that success, though he prioritises collective silverware over individual accolades.

“It’s a dream to be the top scorer in Portugal, but what interests me is winning. To win, obviously, the goals have to come, and hopefully I can score them. That would mean I’m doing my job well,” he said.

“When I arrived, I spoke with the manager. We all need to change the club’s mentality to help it grow. We have to have high expectations and not be content with what we already have. The club has to aspire to win titles,” he added.

One of the motivating factors behind his move was the visibility required to break into the Spanish national team, a goal he keeps firmly in his sights.

“It’s a dream everyone has. Every player wants to play for the Spanish national team. I still have a lot of work to do, I have a lot to improve, but it’s a goal I have for the future: to try and get there. I’ve never achieved it, and hopefully I can someday,” he said.

Victor shone during Barcelona’s preseason last season, scoring against Real Madrid and Manchester City. However, official minutes were harder to come by.

When asked if he expected to play more given his summer form, he was honest but understanding of the competition.

“I’ve always said it. I think I could have had more minutes, especially at the beginning, but you stop and think, you see the players you had around you, and it’s very difficult.

“Flick insisted a lot on me, and I don’t think I could ever say a bad word about him. He’s an exceptional coach, and he treated me like a 10 out of 10,” he said.

Pau Victor went on to talk about the moments he shared in the Barcelona dressing room and the connections he built.

“Many friends, both in the locker room and among the staff. The family that’s created within Barça is incredible. I’ve experienced things that money can’t buy. It’s unbelievable,” he said.

When asked to pick the player Barcelona currently depends on the most, choosing between Lamine Yamal, Pedri, and Raphinha, Victor singled out the Brazilian for his work ethic and personal support.

“It’s difficult for Barça to depend on just one person, and it’s hard for me to pick just one. Right now, I think Raphinha is playing at a level any team would want.

“He gives his all on the pitch, and he’s a game-changer with the ball. I like him a lot, and he helped me a lot; I’m extremely grateful to him,” he said.

Finally, Victor touched on the administrative difficulties Barcelona faced in registering players, a saga that affected both him and Dani Olmo. He admitted that the uncertainty created a stressful environment.

“Those were a few weeks that weren’t easy for me or Olmo. I imagine they weren’t easy for anyone. There was a lot of tension. You didn’t know what was going to happen, but the club instilled confidence in you, and in the end, everything turned out well,” he concluded.