Having joined on a five-year deal in July, the 22-year-old has already usurped Vitor Roque in the pecking order in Catalunya
Robert Lewandowski can't last forever. New Barcelona manager Hansi Flick may be able to get some new life out of the soon-to-be 36-year-old, but the Blaugrana, at some point, need to start thinking about the future.
It seemed, just eight months ago, that Brazilian Vitor Roque would be the answer to their concerns. But with an exit already looming for the big-money teenager, Barca seem to have moved on in their search for a reliable Lewandowski back-up. And in Pau Victor, they just might have found their man.
The Girona academy graduate has been Barca's player of the summer so far, scoring three goals in two pre-season games – including a brace to bury Real Madrid in a high-intensity Clasico 'friendly'. But who is the 22-year-old who has never made a top-flight appearance that now looks set for a role at one of Europe's biggest clubs?
GOAL runs the rule over the player Barca hope can become their long-term Lewandowski replacement.
Where it all began
Like so many in Catalunya, Victor comes from a strong footballing family. He is one of three brother, all of whom have some sort of career in the game ahead of them, with the youngest, Guillem, potentially the best of the trio having been part of La Masia for a number of years.
Pau, on the other hand, didn't come through Barca's famed youth system. He instead joined the Girona academy at the age of 17 after leaving second-division side Sabadell FC, and had to bide his time before making it into the first team at Barca's near-neighbours.
AdvertisementGThe big break
Victor's Girona career was largely defined by false dawns. At the start of the 2020-21 season, he seemed set to become a first-team regular in the second division as the Catalan outfit looked to plot their way back into La Liga. The forward made six appearances in the first 12 matches of the campaign, but soon fell out of favour, and tasted just two minutes of first-team football following the turn of the year.
Having spent another season in Girona's reserves, Victor was loaned back to boyhood club Sabadell, who had fallen into the third tier, for the 2022-23 campaign. He managed seven goals and six assists for a team that finished in mid-table, and that in turn convinced Barca to take him on loan for the following campaign and make him part of their Barcelona Atletic squad, who themselves also play in the third division.
Victor thrived in the famous Blaugrana colours as he quickly became a favourite of manager and Barca legend Rafa Marquez. He formed a deadly duo with teenager Marc Guiu, who has since joined Chelsea, scoring 20 goals and providing six assists to a team that went on to reach the play-offs.
How it's going
Victor's performances for Barca's second-string convinced them to make his move permanent, and he signed a deal that will keep him at the club until 2029 midway through the summer. He was immediately thrust into first-team training, and with other more established players enjoying post-tournament breaks, Victor has taken the opportunity to impress Flick and run with it.
Though a natural striker who has some experience of playing out wide, Victor has been deployed as a roaming No.10 so far this summer, filling the gap left by the absence from the club's tour of the United States of Ilkay Gundogan and Pedri. He hasn't looked out of place, though, as he first opened the scoring against Manchester City before netting twice against Real Madrid in New Jersey to seal a narrow win over Barca's arch-rivals.
"Three goals in two games? Not bad! He knows how to score and that’s good for a forward," Flick said of Victor after the Madrid game.
GettyBiggest strengths
Although most comfortable leading the line, Barca view Victor as more of a natural creator, a second striker rather than out-and-out No.9. Accordingly, he is an excellent dribbler, creative in tight spaces, and intelligent in his movement.
Both of his goals against Madrid came from clever runs, anticipating the spaces that Lewandowski would open up – and darting into them. He is also a capable presser, and has shown a penchant for covering ground off the ball – something Flick will certainly value.