Barcelona officially renewed the contract of Pau Cubarsí through 2029, his release clause sitting at an outrageous €500 million. The 18-year-old center-back had already played in 60 games with the senior squad, positioning himself as an irreplaceable piece in Barça's backline and interesting potential suitors like Manchester City. Inking him to an extended deal with an out-of-the-park buyout price says something: Barcelona isn't joking around.
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Cubarsí's rapid rise and Barça's desperation
Only 18 years old, Pau Cubarsí has already featured in 23 LaLiga and eight Champions League games this season. His swift rise is a testament to both his natural talent and Barcelona's desperate search for homegrown solutions to a defense that has been beset by inconsistency. Ever since the day he debuted against Unionistas de Salamanca in the Copa del Rey, he showed maturity beyond his age, and the coaching staff believed in him. For Barça, this was the perfect moment to bind him for the long term and prevent any future regrets.
The €500 million clause
With this buyout clause, no club can poach him without negotiating directly with Barcelona. The caveat? If Cubarsí fails to live up to expectations, this huge clause could be more of a curse than a shield. Football has had its share of young sensations who were built up too much, only to plateau and be stuck with inflated contracts and dwindling market value. Barça's action makes sense, but it is not risk-free.
Mentality and expectations
It was a wise decision to renew Cubarsí's contract, but the real challenge now is to begin. Barcelona is at a rebuilding phase, balancing the urge to win titles with financial caution without losing its identity as an attacking, youthful team.
Club legend Jordi Roura, a former youth academy director at the club, has described Cubarsí as "serious and cultured," attributes that may come in handy in the midst of the expectations. But mental strength is only half the battle. If Barcelona messes up his development, pressure could become an unsustainable weight. The fans and media already compare him to the great center-backs in the club's history, a double-edged sword that could be used to stimulate his development or put unrealistic pressures, depending on internal management.