Bartra, the new Carles Puyol

During the last Champions League match, Marc Bartra reminded a lot to his childhood hero, Carles Puyol. He was all over the place, going down to defense and up to support, refusing to give up and let a ball pass.

When Marc put for the first time the Barça shirt he was eleven and unlike other kids he didn’t imitate a forward, he wasn’t interested to become the new Kluivert or Rivaldo. He went straight to the center back position, doing his best to imitate his hero, Carles Puyol.

But, unlike Carles Puyol, he is more calmed and doesn’t posse the same kind of discipline as Puyol but formed at La Masia since he was 11, he is much more technical player than Puyol was.

But apart of their differences, there is also a lot of similarities like their love for the FC Barcelona and to never give up on the field. Un example can be seen when playing against Real Madrid in Copa del Rey 2014. Bartra pushed to be in the pitch from a muscle injury and even during the game he never stopped fighting even if the injury got worse.

Bartra isn’t Puyol, but the admiration for Puyol has made them very similar. After eight year at Barcelona, Bartra entered Barcelona’s first team alongside Puyol, who quickly become his mentor, in and out of the pitch.

Even when he had lucrative offers to leave Barcelona, he only listened to one person, and Puyol told him to stay, work hard and he would reach his goals and stay in the club for many years.

On Wednesday against PSG, Marc Bartra put again all his heart in the pitch with a brilliant performance and showing that he will do everything for the club emblem on his chest.

There is a long way still to reach his full potential, but with his mentor by his side he will get there sooner or later.

Even though he is not Carles Puyol, this is most likely the closest thing that Barcelona will have to a new Puyol.

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