Teenager Tommy Marques has spoken about life at Barcelona after making his first-team debut on Saturday against Real Mallorca. He came on as a late substitute and became the ninth academy graduate to make his debut under Hansi Flick at the club.
Marques highlighted that knowing the manager places trust in young players is a major motivator for everyone working at the club, from the youth sides upward. That faith, he says, pushes players to train harder and aim higher.
He also revealed that he has long admired Frenkie de Jong and reflected on the influence of senior figures such as Sergio Busquets, who was outstanding in earlier years. Watching those players train every day is, for Marques, an invaluable learning experience, and he stressed the need to stay grounded and keep working so that more moments like his debut can follow.
He admitted he is still processing the reality of having debuted and been part of the first-team squad, describing the experience as full of pride and emotion. For a player who has been at the club for 11 years, making a Camp Nou debut felt like a dream come true.
Marques hopes to feature more frequently between now and the end of the season, and there are reports that Flick has already told him he will be part of the senior squad for 2026–27.
