Marc Guieu: Chelsea striker shows Barcelona’s ‘mistake’ is Blues’ advantage
To say that Guieu has performed brilliantly since breaking into Barcelona’s first team would be a huge understatement.
The La Masia graduate made an immediate impact after coming on in the 79th minute of Barcelona’s La Liga match against Athletic Bilbao in October 2023, scoring after just 33 seconds to give Xavi’s side a 1-0 win.
However, his path to the senior team was less straightforward. Affected by several development stunts during his teenage years, the diminutive frontman was not always a regular starter at youth level.
“He missed a lot of games,” Albert Capellas, Barcelona’s former assistant director of youth football, told Sky Sports earlier this year. “He couldn’t train.
“What happens at many clubs is, if you can’t train or play, maybe you have to leave. (But) at Barcelona, we know the level of the players, we give them time.”
The Catalan club’s patience played into Guiu’s hands. He played six more matches for the senior team in 2023–24, scoring again in a 3–2 defeat to Royal Antwerp in the Champions League.
“Marc Guieu is a finisher,” Capellas said. “[He’s]not a player who has incredible one-on-one skills, who can dribble past players. He’s a different type of player, but he’s exceptional in his position. He’s got a nose for goal. “
In June this year, Chelsea reached an agreement to activate his £5m release clause before signing the young player on a five-year contract, with the option of a further year at Stamford Bridge.
