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Monday, 21 January 2013
Remember the Name: Gerard Deulofeu
12:04 | 
Posted by
Bappo |
We've been to Portugal and France. Next in line is an exciting Spanish prospect who unsurprisingly plays for Barcelona. I give you Gerard Deulofeu.
Remember when Pep Guardiola took over from Frank Rijkaard at Barcelona? Of course you do. It catapulted Lionel Messi to the top, but one of Guardiola's biggest achievements was in reviving La Masia, Barcelona's youth team and excellence centre. Players like Pedro and Sergio Busquets suddenly arrived and played their part for a record-breaking Barcelona side. Both hadn't been destined for greatness by their football educators, but Pep had clearly seen something. Even though they were underrated coming out of La Masia, both found their way into the team. now they're both European, World Cup and Champions' League winners.
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| Deulofeu: still only 18 but already achieved so much at youth international level. |
Remember when Pep Guardiola took over from Frank Rijkaard at Barcelona? Of course you do. It catapulted Lionel Messi to the top, but one of Guardiola's biggest achievements was in reviving La Masia, Barcelona's youth team and excellence centre. Players like Pedro and Sergio Busquets suddenly arrived and played their part for a record-breaking Barcelona side. Both hadn't been destined for greatness by their football educators, but Pep had clearly seen something. Even though they were underrated coming out of La Masia, both found their way into the team. now they're both European, World Cup and Champions' League winners.
So imagine the excitement generated by Gerard Deulofeu. Alongside Sergi Roberto, he has been tabbed since his early years (he's still only 18) as Barcelona's future winger. After playing his first official game for Barcelona as a 17-year-old, Deulofeu has continued his football education at La Masia and is consistently training with the first team.
He has, however, proved himself playing for Spain's youth teams. As the undisputed leader of La Roja's younger generations, he led the U-17 to the European Championship final in 2010. Barely a year later, he became an integral part of the U-19's, playing an important role to European glory in 2011 before repeating the trick and being awarded the Golden Player award in 2012. He has even added four U-21 caps to his name, managing to score 2 goals in the process.
Deulofeu is a typical Barcelona attacking player. Capable of playing on both wings or through the middle, he resembles Pedro in that matter. His goalscoring record for Barcelona's B side, which currently plays in Spain's Segunda (the equivalent of the Championship), is impressive, with 21 goals in 53 games to date.
Perhaps the most impressive aspect of Deulofeu's talent is the faith placed in him by Barcelona. They have already planned on developing him as a vital part of Barcelona's future strike force. According to Revista's Guillem Balague, the plan for Barcelona is to have Deulofeu partner Messi and Neymar in 2014. Surely there is no bigger indictment than that.
Worst case scenario: Pedro
Best case scenario: Better than Pedro and slightly worse than Messi.
He has, however, proved himself playing for Spain's youth teams. As the undisputed leader of La Roja's younger generations, he led the U-17 to the European Championship final in 2010. Barely a year later, he became an integral part of the U-19's, playing an important role to European glory in 2011 before repeating the trick and being awarded the Golden Player award in 2012. He has even added four U-21 caps to his name, managing to score 2 goals in the process.
Deulofeu is a typical Barcelona attacking player. Capable of playing on both wings or through the middle, he resembles Pedro in that matter. His goalscoring record for Barcelona's B side, which currently plays in Spain's Segunda (the equivalent of the Championship), is impressive, with 21 goals in 53 games to date.
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| Pedro: the example to match and better for Deulofeu. |
Perhaps the most impressive aspect of Deulofeu's talent is the faith placed in him by Barcelona. They have already planned on developing him as a vital part of Barcelona's future strike force. According to Revista's Guillem Balague, the plan for Barcelona is to have Deulofeu partner Messi and Neymar in 2014. Surely there is no bigger indictment than that.
Worst case scenario: Pedro
Best case scenario: Better than Pedro and slightly worse than Messi.
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