The famed La Masia academy has churned out yet another promising talent in 17-year-old Marc Guiu. The young forward made an immediate impact in his senior team debut for Barcelona, scoring the match-winner just 30 seconds after coming on as a substitute against Athletic Bilbao.
While Guiu was relatively unknown prior to the game, he instantly became a household name for Culés fans. The composed finish to secure a 1-0 victory showcased his predatory instincts and ability to deliver under pressure.
Guiu hails from Granollers in the Catalonia region and has been at La Masia since the age of 10. A versatile forward capable of playing anywhere across the front line, he has impressed coaches with his technical ability, vision and eye for goal.
After years of development in Barcelona’s youth system, Guiu has forcefully announced himself on the big stage. The brief but brilliant cameo leaves supporters eager to see more of the budding starlet. If he can fulfill his immense potential, Barcelona may have uncovered yet another legendary academy graduate.
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Biography
Marc Guiu’s meteoric rise from relative obscurity to Barcelona hero has been years in the making. The 17-year-old hails from the small town of Granollers, just north of Barcelona, where he played for a local Barcelona supporters club as a child. His journey to Camp Nou began in 2013 when he joined La Masia at age 7.
Away from the spotlight, Guiu steadily developed his game in Barcelona’s famed academy. Before his senior team debut, he made just one brief appearance for Barcelona Atletic and played a handful of UEFA Youth League matches, scoring three goals in nine games.
Guiu was left out of Barca’s preseason tour of the US, but did feature in a friendly win over Andres Iniesta’s Vissel Kobe in June. He then shone for Spain at the U17 Euros over the summer, ending as joint top scorer with four goals, including two against Italy.
Still, it was unexpected when Xavi included the teenage striker on the bench versus Athletic Bilbao. Even more shocking was Xavi bringing on Guiu in the 80th minute in search of a goal. At 17 years, 9 months and 18 days old, his composed finish made him Barcelona’s fifth youngest goalscorer ever.
After years honing his skills out of the public eye, Guiu seized his opportunity on the big stage in dramatic fashion. His meteoric rise from La Masia hopeful to Barcelona hero was complete in just 30 electrifying seconds.
Style
While Marc Guiu’s heroics seemed to come out of nowhere, the teenage striker was already on the radar of scouts and journalists before his dream debut.
Days before scoring, Guiu was highlighted by Guardian columnist Sid Lowe in the paper’s Next Generation series profiling youth talents. As Lowe noted, Guiu represents a shift from La Masia’s prototypical diminutive playmakers. Already 6’1″ at just 17, the youngster is a traditional number 9 in the mold of Robert Lewandowski rather than a false 9.
Guiu utilizes his aerial prowess to score headers, but isn’t just a target man, as evidenced by his debut goal that showcased intelligent movement and timing. His blend of physicality, technique and instincts have marked him as a special talent within Barcelona’s ranks.
So while Guiu exploded into the public consciousness in dramatic fashion, his emergence wasn’t a total surprise. The glimpses of brilliance he previously displayed for Spain and Barcelona’s youth spelled danger for defenses. Now with his senior debut, Guiu has confirmed his enormous potential. La Masia appears to have uncovered yet another superstar in the making.
