One wonders how it must feel to be a Chelsea supporter right now.
Quite simply, how do you keep track? How do you stay abreast of a seemingly endless series of signings, transfer rumours swerving around each other like a metaphorical spaghetti junction.
Countless hours have been spent devoted to pouring through YouTube compilations and Wikipedia summaries of Chelsea’s incessant influx of wonderkids. From Kendry Paez and Deivid Washington to Estevao Willian and, now, Marc Guiu.
Estevao, who could eventually set Chelsea back a staggering £60 million with bonuses and add-ons included, arrives from Palmeiras as an 18-year-old with a big reputation and an even bigger future.
Fellow 18-year-old Marc Guiu, meanwhile, is expected to be confirmed as Chelsea’s latest signing either at the end of this week or at the start of his next. Guiu will undergo medical tests with the Stamford Bridge outfit imminently, HITC understands.
Once they are out of the way, Chelsea will trigger the £5 million release clause in his Barcelona contract and make the move official.
Chelsea set to sign Barcelona striker Marc Guiu
Now, no one could accuse Barcelona of ignoring their fabled La Masia academy of late.
The emergence of Pau Cubarsi and 16-year-old Lamine Yamal – amongst a host of other debutants – has supporters dreaming of a return to the glory days of Xavi, Andres Iniesta, Sergio Busquets, Lionel Messi and co.
But Victor Font – the man who lost out on the presidency to an increasingly-unpopular Joan Laporta and plans to stand again in the near future – is certainly not missing an opportunity to highlight Guiu’s imminent exit as another blunder from a side who have made their fair share in the transfer market over the last decade.
“I sent a letter to President Laporta because there were things in the institutional and economic sphere that worry us a lot,” Font says, via La Razon, in a rather obvious attempt to put pressure on his presidential rival.
“My concerns are widespread within Barcelona fans and are not related to the fact that the ball did not go in (the net).”
In other words, it is events off the field rather than Barce’s failings on it which concern Font and the supporters.
“It left me more worried,” Font adds. “There are three things that (Laporta and) I agree on.
“We are very happy to see that La Masia is a source of inexhaustible talent. Although you doubt that story when you buy Vitor Roque and you sell Marc Guiu.”
A ‘pure centre-forward’ is heading to Stamford Bridge
Font, as much as Laporta would hate to admit it, has a point.
Guiu exploded onto the scene in late-2023. He became the youngest player ever to score on his Barcelona debut at the age of 17 when he fired in a late winner against Athletic Bilboa. Guiu then opened his Champions League account vs Royal Antwerp a few weeks later.
So, in hindsight, did Barcelona really need to spend £30 million bringing in Victor Roque from Brazil? Roque has struggled to impress so far, and one wonders if Barca would have been better off keeping their chequebook closed and handing those minutes to the homegrown Guiu instead.
At 6ft 2ins and the number nine for Barcelona’s youth team, Guiu is something of an old-school throwback of a centre-forward not typically in the Blaugrana mould.
That physicality and athleticism could work very much in his favour, however, in Chelsea blue.
“He’s a sensational boy, a hard worker, an example as a team-mate for his effort and dedication,” Ivan Carrasco, Guiu’s former Barcelona youth coach, tells Diario Sport.
“He is a pure centre-forward. A classic (number) nine. A specialist in the area who lives by his physical power. His best virtue is his aerial play. Marc is also very quick and powerful, he is unstoppable with space.
“He is not a striker who can drop to the flanks or stands out for his combination play,” Carrasco adds. “But he is aware of his strengths and limitations and knows how to focus on his strengths and hide his flaws.
“Another of his virtues is his great ability to fight for every ball and press like an animal. Defenders are not comfortable with such a hard-working striker profile.”
One youngster Chelsea do appear to have missed out on, however, is the Wolves-bound Sport Recife right-back Pedro Lima.
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