In about a year and a half, Pau Cubarsi has established himself as one of Barcelona’s defensive gems.
At the age of just 19, the Spaniard is now a key component in Hansi Flick’s defensive setup, having already racked up over 100 competitive appearances for the club. He now ranks among one of the most valued defenders in the world.
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The youngster has impressed onlookers with his calmness and ability to operate in a high defensive backline, which is why it came as no surprise when the player revealed his role models in a recent interaction.
Who are Cubarsi’s role models?
Indeed, Cubarsi, in a recent interview with L’Equipe (h/t AS), has revealed that he has long followed the gameplay of two of Barcelona’s most prominent defenders in the 21st century in the form of Carles Puyol and Gerard Pique.
“My references have always been Carles Puyol and Gerard Pique. With Puyol, I mostly watched highlights. I tried to draw inspiration from his character and the way he led the team,” he said.
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With a combined total of more than 1,200 appearances for Barcelona, Puyol and Pique, have indeed been critical to Barcelona’s success since the dawn of the new century.
Pique is one of Cubarsi’s biggest role models. (Photo by Alexander Hassenstein/Getty Images)
Cubarsi added that Pique, in particular, has helped him learn more about ball progression and positioning.
“From Pique, who I had the chance to watch play, I tried to learn his ball progression and positioning. That really helped me become the player I am today,” he said.
In addition to Puyol and Piqué, though, Cubarsi revealed that Liverpool superstar Virgil van Dijk is also one of his role models.
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The Barcelona defender added that he admires van Dijk because of his composure, leadership and ability to circulate the possession from the back.
“I really like Van Dijk, a benchmark for his composure, leadership, and the way he builds from the back,” he concluded.
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