Former coach reveals how Barcelona signed their future defensive mainstay: ‘Lamine had to fight him…’

Barcelona have produced several outstanding defenders from their academy over the years, and one of the latest to emerge from La Masia is Pau Cubarsi.

However, the story behind how the Catalan club first secured the defender’s signature is a fascinating one.

As such, Barcelona originally spotted Cubarsi while he was still playing for Girona at the youth level.

The person who played a key role in identifying the young defender was Dani Horcas, a coach who spent eight years working with Barcelona’s seven-a-side youth teams.

Recalling the exact moment

In an interview with SPORT, Horcas recalled the moment he first saw Cubarsi during a youth tournament in the Basque Country.

Barcelona’s Alevin C team was competing at the Azpeitia tournament when Girona’s young defender immediately caught his attention.

“We were with the Alevin C team at the Azpeitia Tournament in the Basque Country, and Pau Cubarsi was playing for Girona.

“We had already been following him, as you always have to keep an eye on players from Cornella, Damm, Girona, and many other Catalan clubs.

“The truth is that Cubarsi stood out in the tournament, playing at an incredible level,” he remembered.

Cubarsi vs Lamine
During that same competition, there was an encounter that now sounds remarkable considering the careers of the players involved today.

Barcelona faced Girona in a match that saw Cubarsi come up directly against Yamal, who was already part of the Barcelona setup. Horcas remembered the battle between the two youngsters.