Marc Bernal, the other jewel of Barça’s 2007 generation, backed for a key future role | OneFootball

Marc Bernal, 18, has surged into Barcelona’s midfield after a Copa del Rey brace in Tuesday’s semi-final second leg against Atlético de Madrid, a 3-0 win on the night but 3-4 overall. Barcelona face Athletic Bilbao on Saturday at 21:00, and some already cast him as Sergio Busquets’ heir.

According to L'Équipe, Bernal entered La Masia at seven and, after a growth spurt to 1.93 m, moved from an 8 or 10 to the 6 role. His scoring instinct is keener than Busquets’.

Hansi Flick was immediately impressed, starting him in the first three league games while Frenkie de Jong was absent. An anterior cruciate ligament rupture then halted him for 382 days, yet Barcelona still renewed his contract, confirmed in September 2025 to run through 2029.

His return has been gradual, with limited minutes and Flick careful not to rush him. In January, the coach voiced absolute certainty that Bernal will be a key figure for the club’s future, while Albert Puig Alcaide notes the 6 at Barcelona demands rare technical awareness and positioning.

De Jong, regularly injured and often criticised for defensive commitment, has watched his young team-mate emerge, and while the hierarchy may not shift immediately, the debate is alive in Barcelona. Bernal belongs to the 2007 cohort with Lamine Yamal and Pau Cubarsi, and a clip of Bernal and Yamal aged 11 admiring Ronaldinho has recently gone viral.

Source: L'Équipe