Former Barcelona youth coach Albert Puig is convinced by the potential of Pau Cubarsi.

Now assistant coach at Aris Thessaloniki, Puig worked with Cubarsi at La Masia.

He told Radio Marca: "The first thing to define Pau is his head. He has a maturity inappropriate for a boy of his age, he is several steps ahead, it is not normal. He has always been one of the best centre-backs in Barça's youth football but if you don't see him in the elite, you don't know how he's going to respond. He's leaving us all with our mouths open.

"He has a great ability to interpret the game well and to get the ball out well played. Yesterday he faced Osimhen and just by reading the game in all situations he went over him.

"There has to be someone in the first team who believes that young people can really be given an alternative. On the day that Xavi risked his chestnuts, he puts Pau, Lamine, Fermín... and everyone responds. Barça's situation has invited good people from the youth team to give alternatives. The kids are showing that they can be trusted."