Despite Marc Guiu’s departure to Indonesia for the U-17 World Cup, Xavi can continue to lead the reserve team’s attack with guarantees
The recoveries of Lewandowski and Raphinha leave the range less open, but Pau Víctor will always be ready if he is needed
Pau Víctor has had to be somewhat in the shadow of his teammate and friend Marc Guiu in recent weeks. They were the two options that were considered to replace Robert Lewandowski in the Barça first team after the Polish forward’s injury, and the one from Terrassa even called up both of them, but against Athletic Club, the youth player was chosen, whom he gave the opportunity and got it right: goal in the 80th minute for a great victory.
Last Sunday, with Barça Atlètic, the two scored for the reserve team’s comeback against Osasuna Promesas. Marc Guiu’s goal was the most celebrated and the one that took the spotlight as it was scored in stoppage time and made the final 2-1.
But we must greatly value what Pau Víctor is doing. He is another type of forward, with greater mobility and the possibility of playing in the three positions of the attack, although In recent days, Rafa Márquez has been putting him at ‘nine’, leaving Diego Percan on the wing.
Score in more than half of the games
Pau Víctor is the top scorer for Barça Atlètic. He has 6 goals in 9 games played. He has scored in five games – in Tudela against Tarazona he scored a double – and he has only failed to score in 4, less than half of the games.
In addition, he has distributed 2 assists, a facet that is also mastered by a footballer who is on loan from Girona until the end of the season and that, if he continues like this, it would not be surprising if the Blaugrana club decided to keep him, since he has a purchase option of three million euros.
Asked about this by SPORT in the mixed zone after the reserve team’s victory, Pau Víctor answered: “My goal is to have a great year, try to make a difference, try to help the team as much as possible and, then, at the end of the year, Barça will evaluate what it has to do, Girona… but I work for myself, to have a great year and be in the best possible position this year.”
He has months ahead of him, and the possibility of becoming a ‘new Marc Guiu’, taking advantage in some way of the youth squad’s absence due to the U-17 World Cup.
If Xavi needs another ‘killer’ in the reserve team, he already knows Pau Víctor, since he has counted on him, even though he has not made his debut. He has seen him in training and called him up in Granada. He knows that he is a footballer he can trust.
It is true that the recoveries of Robert Lewandowski and Raphinha, who already had minutes in the classic against Real Madrid, closes the range of possibilities, but Pau Víctor will always be with the ‘rod’ ready in case he is needed in the Barça first team.