Behold: The 17-year-old Barca boy who reduced Osimhen to 'passanger'

Behold: The 17-year-old Barca boy who reduced Osimhen to 'passanger'

Victor Osimhen was expected to take his Napoli's form to the Champions League cracker against Barcelona on Tuesday but he never bargain what was in stock for him.

Barca coach, Xavi Hernandez, however had his game plan wrapped up. A certain Pau Cubarsi, the 17-year-old defender had specific instruction to make the Nigerian ineffective. And that was what he did.

Cubarsi, is in his first season as a professional football player, and made his UEFA Champions League debut Tuesday night, and barely put a foot wrong.

Cubarsi, from the famous La Masia academy of Barcelona, was given the man of the match award after a brilliant display and gave credit to the club’s coach, Xavi Hernandez, for giving him the tools to lock down last season’s Serie A top scorer.

Explaining how he was able to keep Osimhen from wrecking havoc, Cubarsi said; “Xavi gave me the details on what to do to stop Osimhen, and the fans in the stands helped us a lot, they were the 12th player,” the 17-year-old said in quotes revealed by Get Football Spain.

Cubarsi also won all six of his ground duels in the game, majorly against Osimhen. He also made 5 clearances and had a 90% pass accuracy. The youngster was simply tremendous.

Xavi was equally full of praise for the Spanish youngster, praising his composure in such a high-tension game.

“Cubarsí was never nervous, always finding the free man. He creates time for himself, he dictates the tempo. It’s simply spectacular watching him play.”