Barcelona teenage midfielder closer to leaving than staying at club: report

Pau Prim has been heralded as a future FC Barcelona first team midfielder for most of his time at The Masia.

However, with each passing day, it looks like the 18-year-old might not be able to make his dream come true, with his contract expiring at the end of the season and talks of a renewal going nowhere.

Pau Prim closer to the exit doors

In fact, according to SPORT, at this point it seems that Pau Prim is closer to leaving Barcelona than signing a new contract and staying at the club.

This comes after the 18-year-old pivot midfielder was left out of Barça Atletic’s squad last week for the match against Cultural Leonesa, not due to injury or sporting issues but due to the contractual situation.

If the reserve team’s coach, Albert Sánchez, once again excludes the talented midfielder from the squad for Sunday’s match against Ponferradina, the picture will become much clearer.

What has gone wrong?

The 2023-24 season was challenging for Pau Prim. Until then, the midfielder had felt valued and appreciated at Barça. Having been part of the club since the junior stage, the coaches constantly identified him as the most talented ‘6’ at La Masia.

Pau was the holder of guarantees and a key piece in all his teams. But Marc Bernal’s unexpected move to Barça Atlético last season disrupted that trajectory. He and his team perceived this as a significant change in Barcelona’s strategy to replace Sergio Busquets.

Although Pau accepted that Marc Casado was the first option in the reserves, seeing himself overshadowed by a younger player was a shock. Consequently, Pau alternated between Juvenil A and the reserve team without achieving the expected progress.

While he has become a more prominent figure for Barça Atletic this season, being a regular starter until recently, doubts over a breakthrough into the first team have made him and his team hesitant to sign a new contract.

What is Barcelona’s position?

As far as Barcelona are concerned, they have consistently invested in Pau Prim and value him highly.

The club maintains that Bernal’s unexpected promotion last season does not indicate a loss of faith in Pau. It was a technical decision that reflected the form of the players and the perspectives of the coaches.

Barça’s confidence in Pau is evident in its renewal offer. However, if the player, through his agents, shows little interest in staying, the club has the right to prioritize other players and exclude him for the rest of the season.

As things stand, the young man seems closer to the exit doors and it is unlikely that there will be a shortage of suitors for the 18-year-old. The Masia gem if available in the summer.