It’s official, Deco sacrifices him and he leaves Barcelona
Another young talent is leaving FC Barcelona’s famous La Masia academy. Pau Prim, a 19-year-old midfielder once considered one of the club’s future stars, has decided to leave Barça and take on a new challenge in Qatar.
Prim has rejected a contract renewal from the Spanish giants and is set to sign for Al-Sadd SC, one of the top clubs in the Qatari league. His decision didn’t come out of the blue — it’s been building up for some time. And now, it’s finally happening.
Why Pau Prim is Leaving Barcelona
At just 19, many expected Pau Prim to break into Barcelona’s first team eventually. But with the recent developments in the club, that dream has become harder and harder to reach.
Sources close to the club say that Pau felt blocked from progressing. With the likes of Frenkie de Jong, Pedri, Gavi, Marc Casadó, and rising youngster Marc Bernal already ahead of him in the pecking order, his path to regular first-team football looked nearly impossible.
Reports from Mundo Deportivo confirm that Pau had serious doubts about getting a chance under new head coach Hansi Flick. The German manager, who’s replacing Xavi for the upcoming season, is said to favour other midfielders, especially Marc Bernal, who is younger and more physically suited to Flick’s system.
The Rise of Marc Bernal: The Final Nail in the Coffin
Marc Bernal, who turns 18 in a few days, is now seen as the next big thing in Barcelona’s midfield. He is already set to sign a long-term deal with Barça, which will tie him to the club until 2029. The contract reportedly includes a huge release clause, signaling just how much belief the club has in him.
This decision by the club made it clear to Pau Prim that his chances were slim. As a result, he has spent the last few weeks on the bench at Barça Atlètic, the B team, where coaches have given him little to no playing time since his decision to leave.
Why Qatar? The Bigger Plan Behind the Move
So why would a promising young player leave Europe so early in his career?
The answer lies in a well-thought-out plan that involves more than just club football. Sources close to the situation say that Qatar has long-term ambitions for Pau Prim. The country hopes that after a few years of playing in their league, the young Spaniard will naturalize and eventually represent Qatar’s national team.
Since Pau Prim has not yet played for Spain’s senior team, he is eligible to change nationality in the future. If he stays long enough and agrees to it, he could become a key player for Qatar’s national side — just like other players who’ve followed the same route in the past.
Qatar and Saudi Arabia’s New Strategy: Targeting Young European Talents
Both Qatar and neighboring Saudi Arabia have changed their approach to signing footballers. Instead of only targeting aging stars at the end of their careers, they are now looking at young, talented European players who are unsettled or undervalued at their clubs.
Their goal? To build stronger local leagues and, more importantly, develop national teams that can compete at the highest level, especially as Qatar prepares for future international tournaments.
In return, players like Pau Prim are offered big-money contracts — often more than they could earn playing in Europe at their age — along with guaranteed playing time and high-quality facilities.
Barça Knew This Day Would Come
Reports suggest that Barcelona has known for months that Prim’s move to Al-Sadd was only a matter of time. Even though the club made an effort to renew his contract, the offer was not convincing enough.
Prim’s team believed that his development would be stunted at Barcelona, especially with no guarantee of first-team football. The club, meanwhile, couldn’t make promises it wasn’t sure it could keep — especially with such strong competition in midfield.
What This Means for FC Barcelona
The departure of Pau Prim is another sign of the challenges Barça faces with their academy graduates. La Masia continues to produce high-quality talent, but not everyone finds a path to the first team.
In recent years, several talented players have left the club either due to limited opportunities or financial issues. Some have found success elsewhere, while others have disappeared from the spotlight.
Barça is trying to balance between building for the future and managing its current financial crisis, and that sometimes means letting go of players who might succeed elsewhere.
A Bright Future or a Risky Move?
Only time will tell whether Pau Prim’s move to Qatar will benefit his career. On one hand, he is expected to become a key player at Al-Sadd, gaining regular playing time and enjoying top-notch facilities.
On the other hand, leaving European football at such a young age could also limit his exposure to top-level competition and affect his long-term development — especially if he ever hopes to return to Europe or play for a big national team.
However, if he follows through with plans to naturalize and represent Qatar at the international level, he could become the face of a new football era in the Gulf nation.
What Ghanaians Can Learn From Pau Prim’s Move
In Ghana, we’ve seen our own young footballers make similar moves to leagues in the Middle East, sometimes chasing financial stability over career development. While it’s easy to judge such decisions, each player must do what’s best for their future.
What’s important is that they don’t lose focus and continue working hard to improve. Just like Pau Prim, every footballer must weigh the opportunity cost — is it better to stay and fight for a dream, or move on to create a new one elsewhere?
Final Thoughts: Farewell Pau Prim Hello, Al-Sadd
Pau Prim’s journey at FC Barcelona ends quietly, but his story is far from over. At just 19, he’s making a bold decision — one that could shape not just his career but also his identity and national allegiance.
As he packs his bags for Qatar, he leaves behind the blue and red of Barça for the future hopes of a nation eager to rise in world football. Whether he returns to Europe or becomes a Qatari hero, one thing is certain — he’s following his path.
And that, in itself, is a move worth respecting.