A 'free' signing for Barça

BergaDespite the city of Berga's strong football tradition, no player had ever made it to the Barça first team. The closest examples were Berga natives Oriol Rosell (Puig-reig) and Judit Pujols (Montmajor). That's why Marc Bernal's debut was celebrated in many homes, just as his unfortunate knee injury struck everyone. Almost a year later, his name is back in the spotlight in the city, where people are counting down the days until he returns to the pitch after a devastating knee injury that has kept him out of action since August 27th of last year.

"His recovery is on track. We hope he doesn't make it a year without playing. Although, after what happened, it's no longer a week," says his older brother. His name is Toni, like his father, and he was in Vallecas that fateful Tuesday night when Marc suffered a torn anterior cruciate ligament and an associated injury to his external meniscus. Before that, he had also accompanied him during preseason training in the United States and didn't miss his official debut at Mestalla. "The worst moment was right after the operation, as is normal. He relied heavily on his mother during the first month. Then, on all his family and friends. He's also had the support of his teammates, who have taken him seriously. That has helped him emotionally. The club has welcomed him very well, and he's more aware of it."

Toni also played football, but he didn't leave CE Berga. "He's always been the good one. I'm four years older than him, and when we were kids, he used to beat me," he explains matter-of-factly. His brother loves him very much. And it shows. Today he's hung up his boots. He works at CMG Sport, the agency currently managed by Marc (previously owned by the son of President Joan Laporta). He was also the director of the Marc Bernal Campus, which was first organized in his hometown.

Marc Bernal has participated in special recovery sessions.

"We would have liked him to do a more practical session, but with the injury... he couldn't force his knee," says Toni from the bar at the CE Berga ground, "where it all began, where he's so defined and where everyone is interested." He's referring to Jordi Font, a physical education teacher and former coach of the Barça youth teams. Among others, he was Marc Bernal's coach at the Benjamín A team. "He called me personally to propose that I coordinate this camp. Yes."

The call was successful. About forty boys and girls between the ages of 6 and 14 signed up. It's hard to imagine a progressive comeback like Gavi's. Marc shouldn't think he'll be back at 100% from day one, because with this injury, that's impossible. Together, we must help him understand the situation.

The day Marc walked onto the football pitch, the excitement was high. Even though Berga is a city, it's still a village. Distances are short, and almost everyone knows each other and greets each other on the street. It's been easy to spot Marc, especially during his recovery. As it had been until now, whenever he wasn't playing any matches or training. Born in 2007, at just four years old, he debuted in the youth teams of CE Berga. He immediately caught the attention of Gimnàstic de Manresa and from there made the jump to La Masia. A Barça player from birth, he blazed through the ranks at Barça until he reached the first team after excelling at Barça Atlètic in the year the reserve team was on the verge of promotion to the Second Division. And from there, he earned a place in the starting lineup for newcomer Hansi Flick.

Marc Bernal, a young family man, good guy and friend to his friends

Those who know him speak highly of him. They say he's a good guy. A very family-oriented person and a friend to his friends, to whom he often gave tickets to come see him when Johan Cruyff was playing. And he's also a good teammate, to the point that a few years ago he invited Berga Lamine Yamal—when he was an unknown kid—to spend the weekend or got a very young Pau Cubarsí to go with his family to see Patum.

Marc Bernal signed his first professional contract in 2023, when he was sixteen. After the injury, the club made a gesture toward him and agreed to extend his contract, which ends in 2026, with another three optional years. It's a real pain in the neck for a player who has experienced the bitterest side of the sport but who "has enjoyed more than one sensational season as a Barça player," says his brother. He wants it to be just as successful next season, but with him on the pitch. "I'll try to give back as best I can and with confidence," the Barça midfielder said on Friday at the campus that bears his name.