If Bryan Gil felt that he had a point to prove during Eibar’s La Liga clash with Sevilla in January, he could walk off the Ipurua turf knowing that he had done his job.
The 20-year-old was farmed out on loan by the Europa League winners in October and, three months later, showed everyone in Andalusia that he still has a roll to play with a performance full of verve, skill and style.
Julen Lopetegui, the Sevilla coach, was clearly impressed by what he saw from the Barbate-born Eibar talisman too, making a beeline for Gil at full-time and congratulating him on what was the latest in a long line of stand-out displays.
Since then, the Spain U21 star has rarely been out of the headlines.
In the space of three weeks, he has produced two assists, been compared to the most expensive footballer in history and, according to reports, caught the eye of Premier League giants Arsenal.
But with Mundo Deportivo claiming that Gil will be rewarded with a contract extension by Sevilla – complete with a £130 million release clause – the fleet-footed winger looks certain to be challenging Lucas Ocampos and co for a place in Lopetegui’s starting XI next season.
So Arsenal – and Barcelona – will have little choice but to watch on from afar as Gil continues to bamboozle full-backs on a weekly basis, possibly in the red and white of Sevilla.
“Right now he is Spain’s best footballer and I compare him with Neymar,” Barcelona scout German Vaya Ballabriga, otherwise known as ‘Mani’, told Cadena Ser recently.
“He can do certain things and has great versatility, as he can play at full-back, in the middle or on the left wing. It’s impressive.
“I have spoken with (Barcelona director) Raman Planes about him and he has Bryan Gil in mind.”
Barca have spent almost every waking moment pining for Neymar since his dramatic departure in the summer of 2018. In Gil, could the Kings of Catalonia find the Brazilian’s natural successor?
Not if Sevilla have anything to do with it.
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