One of a number of La Masia graduates to play an important role under Blaugrana legend Xavi Hernandez last season, the 18-year-old forward has opted to take a very different path than his fellow La Masia graduates Pau Cubarsi and Lamine Yamal.
Marc Guiu, HITC understands, could officially become a Chelsea player by the end of this weekend.
The Blues have reached an agreement with the Spain Under 19 international. Marc Guiu is now due to undergo medical tests.
Once they are completed, potentially by the close of play on Sunday, Chelsea will trigger the £5 million release clause in his contract and finalise the deal.
Chelsea on verge of sealing Marc Guiu deal
Guiu wears the number nine shirt of Barcelona’s youth team and has made his mark in the senior side as well of late.
At the age of just 17 years and 291 days, he became the youngest debutant ever to score for Barcelona in La Liga when he netted a dramatic late winner against Athletic Bilbao just 23 seconds after stepping off the bench in October.
Guiu also scored in the Champions League versus Royal Antwerp. He eventually ended the campaign with seven first-team appearances and two goals.
“Marc, a kid from La Masia, makes the difference for us,” club icon Xavi said after that Athletic winner, via Marca. “He’s got a goal, a spark, and I like him personally.”
At 6ft 2ins, Guiu is a physical, instinctive and quick centre-forward with all of the attributes to become one of the leading talents in his position. It remains to be seen, however, if Chelsea plan to loan him out or integrate the teenager into Enzo Maresca’s first-team squad for 2024/25.
Fellow youngsters Angelo Gabriel and Deivid Washington spent last term at Strasbourg under Patrick Vieira, though the influx of unproven teen talents on short-term deals led to plenty of criticism from a dissatisfied Alsace fanbase.
Barcelona starlet is heading to Stamford Bridge
“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.
Chelsea supporters, he says, should expect something of an old-school centre-forward capable of beating defenders with a burst of pace or a well-timed shoulder barge.
“He is a pure centre-forward. A classic (number) nine. A specialist in the area who lives by his physical power,” Carrasco adds. “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. 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.”
Chelsea have already invested heavily on bringing fellow 18-year-old Estevao Willian to Stamford Bridge from Palmeiras.
They were also hoping to tie up a deal for Sport Recife right-back Pedro Lima but he is now on his way to Wolverhampton Wanderers instead.
