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Barcelona starlet Marc Muniesa eyes first-team place
The club's sporting director, Andoni Zubizarreta, announced last week that the 19-year-old defender would be promoted from the B team to the senior side next season
Feb 13, 2012 2:45:00 PM
By Mark Doyle
Marc Muniesa insists that he is not in the least bit daunted by the challenge of trying to break into the Barcelona starting line-up.
Barca sporting director Andoni Zubizarreta announced last week that the 19-year-old defender would be promoted from the B team to the senior side next season.
Muniesa is well aware that he has a real task on his hands in trying to establish himself in Pep Guardiola's squad - but it is one that he is looking forward to.
"Am I afraid? No, man, it's been a dream since childhood," the Spain Under-21 international told Sport. "It is a challenge, a very big challenge.
"But we must seize our opportunities and when you play you just have to do your best.
"The truth is that this is a dream that is gradually coming true. I saw in the press that Andoni Zubizarreta had announced it [his promotion] and I am very happy.
"But for now I must continue working with the reserves and next year we'll see."
Muniesa is comfortable at both centre-back and full-back but he also has experience of playing as a defensive midfielder for the Barca B team and he is willing to play anywhere in order to get a game.
"I would not have thought of it [playing as a defensive midfielder]," he admitted.
"But it is important to manage in different positions, because we have already seen that in the first team players are very versatile and that's important."
Muniesa became the fourth youngest player to line out for Barcelona when he made his debut for the club against Osasuna in May 2009 at the age of 17 years and 57 days.
Barca sporting director Andoni Zubizarreta announced last week that the 19-year-old defender would be promoted from the B team to the senior side next season.
| Bet: | Returns: | Bilbao £85.00 | Draw £55.00 | Barcelona £12.50 |
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| Bet: | Returns: | Bilbao £95.00 | Draw £55.00 | Barcelona £12.90 |
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| Bet: | Returns: | Bilbao £90.00 | Draw £50.00 | Barcelona £13.00 |
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| Bet: | Returns: | Bilbao £90.00 | Draw £60.00 | Barcelona £12.90 |
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| Bet: | Returns: | Bilbao £87.00 | Draw £53.00 | Barcelona £12.50 |
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Muniesa is well aware that he has a real task on his hands in trying to establish himself in Pep Guardiola's squad - but it is one that he is looking forward to.
"Am I afraid? No, man, it's been a dream since childhood," the Spain Under-21 international told Sport. "It is a challenge, a very big challenge.
"But we must seize our opportunities and when you play you just have to do your best.
"The truth is that this is a dream that is gradually coming true. I saw in the press that Andoni Zubizarreta had announced it [his promotion] and I am very happy.
"But for now I must continue working with the reserves and next year we'll see."
Muniesa is comfortable at both centre-back and full-back but he also has experience of playing as a defensive midfielder for the Barca B team and he is willing to play anywhere in order to get a game.
"I would not have thought of it [playing as a defensive midfielder]," he admitted.
"But it is important to manage in different positions, because we have already seen that in the first team players are very versatile and that's important."
Muniesa became the fourth youngest player to line out for Barcelona when he made his debut for the club against Osasuna in May 2009 at the age of 17 years and 57 days.
Starting in November and continuing through to the middle of February, Goal.com is publishing exclusive extracts from Graham Hunter's highly-anticipated new book, 'Barca: The Making of the Greatest Team in the World'. The last extract looked at how Barca suffered rare disappointment at the hands of Real Madrid in a gripping finale to last season's Copa del Rey. Don't miss it!
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