Marc Casado names two Barcelona legends as role models, addresses Kimmich comparisons | OneFootball

Marc Casado has emerged as one of the young players in focus at Barcelona, especially after the injury of Marc Bernal.

The young midfielder has been tasked with the responsibility of replacing his young teammate. The player did not disappoint either, offering a solid display in the 7-0 win over Real Valladolid in the last match.

Marc Casado talks Xavi, Flick

In a recent interview with OnzeTV3 (h/t Mundo Deportivo), Casado thanked Hansi Flick and expressed the team’s approval of the new German coach.

“We are very happy with Flick, he is a coach who is very close to us and talks a lot with the players,” he said.

When asked about his footballing idol, though, Casado did not hesitate in naming former Barcelona coach and legendary midfielder Xavi. The youngster also mentioned Sergio Busquets.

“My reference has been always Xavi, and when I started playing as a No. 6 I always looked up to Sergio Busquets,” he said.

Casado is getting a run in the first team. (Photo by Eric Alonso/Getty Images)

It is no secret that Barcelona have struggled to find a replacement for Busquets ever since his departure in the summer of 2023.

However, in Bernal and Casado, Flick has two exciting La Masia talents, who have shown immense promise in the early days of their respective careers.

Casado, in fact, was nicknamed Joshua Kimmich by many in the dressing room, due to his playing style and versatility on the pitch.

Acknowledging the comparison, Casado stated, “Last season I started playing as a full-back like Kimmich and it started. On top of that, Balde started highlighting the physical similarity. Now I will be able to meet him in the game vs. Bayern Munich.”

Casado ended the conversation by talking about Barcelona’s excellent start to the new season. He also offered his thoughts on Real Madrid, stating, “They have a great team and so do we. We are doing things well.”

Talking about Barcelona, Casado concluded, “When you start a new project, results are important in order to gain rhythm and confidence from day one. We added four wins from four important matches and that’s how titles can come.”