Álvaro Cortes, a 21-year-old La Masia graduate, made his first-team debut for FC Barcelona against Deportivo Alavés after repeated call-ups to the matchday squad. Despite Barcelona’s defeat, he stood out with composure, defensive maturity, and confidence on the ball. After the match, he described feeling nervous but normal for a debut at the best club in the world. He said he took the moment in stride, relying on support from family and teammates, and tried to do what he usually does in matches. He also said he had not fully realized he had debuted for Barça. He credited Hansi Flick’s advice and faith, saying he was told to play as he did in training and that the coach trusted him with and without the ball.
"“I remember getting nervous. I think that's normal; making your debut for the best club in the world is what it's all about,” Cortes explained, as quoted by SPORT."
"“I took it in my stride, talking to my family and teammates who helped me a lot. I took it in my stride, trying to do what I usually do in matches, and I was lucky that it went well,” he added."
"“I still haven't fully realised what's happened. For me, it was a dream. I try to talk about it with my family and friends to grasp the magnitude of it, but I still haven't fully realised that I've made my debut for Barç̧a.”"
"“When Flick told me I was starting, he advised me to play just as I had in training, because I'd improved a lot over the past few weeks with the team. He told me he had a lot of faith in me, with and without the ball. It's the style of play we're taugh”"
Read at Barca Universal
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