“Marc was very happy. We all found out at 11:30 a.m. when the list came out. I locked myself in my office at work to follow him. Like every Friday, we went to eat with people from work and toasted with cava,” he excitedly tells The Vanguard Albert Casadó, the father of Marc Casadó who yesterday, at 21 years old, received for the first time the call to the senior Spanish team for the two Nations League games against Denmark on November 15 in Copenhagen and against Switzerland on the 18th in Tenerife . “He has worked hard to be here,” adds his father.
“Probably if he had not been put in the Barça first team we would not have seen his ability,” acknowledged the coach, Luis de la Fuente. It is not a trivial message. Casadó will go to Las Rozas on Monday with hardly any experience in the lower categories of the national team. He was only called up five years ago with the U-16 team and was only called up a month ago by Santi Denia for the U-21 team. “I’m very happy for Marc. We are delighted that De la Fuente called him. He is a serious guy, who through work has earned this leap,” Denia said.
“At home we have taught him to listen and work, it is very important,” says his father Albert Casadó.
The story of Casadó is written under the story of effort and perseverance. He arrived at Barça when he was 13 years old and, without being part of any list of chosen To reach the first team, he worked tirelessly. From Infantil A he went through all the club’s lower categories. When he reached the youth categories he was named captain. And two years ago he settled in Rafa Márquez’s subsidiary. “Since he was little we have taught him to listen. To understand that the moment you enter La Masia, you become a privileged person who must work,” says his father.
Under the leadership of Xavi Hernández, Casadó made his debut with the first team in the 2-4 victory in the Champions League against Viktoria Pilsen on November 1, 2022. In the League it cost him much more. He was called up 26 times. He played eight minutes against Atlético, five against Cádiz and another two minutes in the Champions League with Shakhtar and Antwerp.
“There are footballers who need that demand to get the best out of themselves. Great professionals show their best face in the face of the greatest challenges. From now on we are all going to demand much more from him,” analyzed De la Fuente, recognizing that Casadó’s path will set certain guidelines.
“There are footballers who need demand; From now on we are all going to demand much more from him,” De la Fuente analyzed.
“He is reaping the fruits of everything,” adds his father who, together with his mother Anna and his sister Laura, are always watching to ensure that the midfielder does not lose sight of the world. To strengthen an already discreet way of being. Without stridency. But always determined. Like his football. “Last year when he didn’t have opportunities he himself asked to play in the reserve team. You just had to continue working. It’s what we have always taught him and Marc listens to us a lot,” his father insists.
The path of patience has worked for a player who, despite having offers, decided to believe Flick’s word when he told him that he would try him on the American tour. He passed the test with his friend Marc Bernal. “With Bernal and Casadó we should not look for a pivot,” Flick said. Without the injured De Jong and Pedri and with Fermín resting for the Olympic Games, Casadó and Bernal played in the League debut against Valencia at Mestalla. Then, Casadó returned to the bench against Athletic and Rayo Vallecano. Until Bernal was injured in Vallecas. Since then no one has moved him from there. He has eight starts in 12 League games. And another four in the Champions League. “We didn’t imagine that everything would go so quickly,” admits his father.
His great role at Barça and Rodri’s injury have opened the doors to the international elite in a list of 26 players that also includes Barcelona players Pedri, Lamine Yamal and Dani Olmo and in which, for the first time in three years, there are no Real Madrid players.
The other new additions to the list are Porto striker Samu Omorodion, who has 11 goals in 12 games, and Athletic Club center back Aitor Paredes.
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