Pau Cubarsí renews with Barça until 2027

FC Barcelona has announced the renewal of Pau Cubarsí until 2027 with a release clause of 500 million euros. The club has thus secured the 17-year-old center-back, who joined Barça in 2018 from Girona's youth football, and whose previous release clause was 10 million euros, making him a very attractive asset in the transfer market after his rapid rise. Cubarsí will finish the season wearing the number 33 shirt for the reserve team, and his registration for the following season will depend on the available space.

Beyond improving his conditions, work will continue to ensure that the agreement includes a commitment to extend the bond until 2030, as has already happened with Lamine Yamal, Balde, and Gavi. This commitment will be activated when Cubarsí reaches legal age. If this occurs, the club ensures that the center-back will remain a blaugrana player at least until the age of 23. “Being a Culé since I was little and being able to renew is a dream. They are giving us many opportunities, me and my teammates, we are very happy. We are making the most of them. My challenge is to keep improving and be myself,” said the center-back who signed his continuity accompanied by President Joan Laporta, Sporting Vice President Rafa Yuste, Sporting Director Deco, and Joan Soler, a member of the sports commission and a youth football executive.

Cubarsí started this season as a first-year youth player and ended up playing nine matches under Rafa Márquez's guidance in the reserve team before becoming a regular part of the first team routine. His breakthrough has been immediate. He made his debut on January 18th in the Copa del Rey match against Unionistas de Salamanca. Four months later, he has already played 20 matches with the first team across all competitions. On the day of his Champions League debut against Napoli in the round of 16 at Montjuïc, he was awarded the MVP of the match.

Last summer, Cubarsí was on the verge of moving to Manchester City. Barça Atlètic had signed central defender Faye for three million and Cubarsí, who was 16 years old, seriously considered it. City planned for him to first be at Girona until he reached adulthood. The sports management at La Masia alerted the coaching staff and the sports leadership. It was Òscar Hernández, Xavi's brother and assistant, who called the player to convince him of his potential. Pau Cubarsí didn't need any more calls. One day before starting preseason with the first team, he signed a three-year contract, until 2026. Deco played an important role in the process. Cubarsí, who still lives in La Masia, brings personality and plays with an unusual maturity, with and without the ball. The club has placed its trust in the young homegrown player, who hopes to continue fulfilling dreams.

The beginnings of Cubarsí

Pau Cubarsí grew up in L’Estanyol, a tiny village in Girona with just 185 inhabitants. There are no soccer fields, and the school closed years ago due to a lack of school-age children. What L’Estanyol does have is a carpentry shop. Fusteria Cubarsí has supplied furniture to the homes and farmhouses of the small town. The business was opened by Pau's great-grandfather, Joan Cubarsí. His grandfather and father, Ramon, who currently runs the business with the footballer's uncle, continued the woodworking craft. Pau's parents, Ramon and Gloria, as well as his older sister, Irene, have witnessed their evolution up close. They accompanied him at FC Vilarblareix, the football club where Cubarsí took his first steps with the ball. He was signed up because he never parted with the ball, but above all because he liked to have fun in the streets of his town. With Cubarsí, FC Vilarblareix won several youth tournaments and leagues. He later moved to Girona. When he was in the U-12 category, former Barcelona youth football directors Jordi Roura and Aureli Altimira took notice of him. It was during a tournament held in Cornellà six years ago when they decided to bring him on board. They explained the project to his parents, who immediately gave their approval.