From Fatorda to Spain: Goa's Mark Barreto gears up for Palam³s CF U-19 stint

Panaji: If his visa formalities fall in place, a young Goan footballer, Mark Barreto, who is a Lionel Messi fan from Vedanta's SESA Football Academy, will soon be landing in Spain to play for Catalonian side Palamós CF’s Under-19 team as early as September this year.

For Mark, an 18-year-old guy coming from a very “poor” background, where his father is a rickshaw driver and his mother is a peon in a school, this journey has been “unexpected”.

However, for SESA’s technical director Eduard Battle Basart, who has formerly worked at the Manchester United Academy and FC Barcelona Academy, there has been something special in Mark, so much so that he compared Mark’s style of play with Isco and Andres Iniesta.

“Mark is a very good technical player. He was very good in making decisions while playing as number 10. From the first moment, I saw a special talent in decision making. For the way how we understand football in Spain, especially in Catalonia, Mark is a perfect fit because his great understanding of the situation and he being the best solution we can find in each problem," said Eduard.

“Number 10 is a special position where you have to have something different as a player. And if I have to compare him with someone, I will compare him with someone like Isco or Iniesta, who can play as a midfielder but sometimes can play as a striker or a winger and sometimes as a defensive midfield,” added Eduard.

Mark, who comes across as a confident young kid, said that he never thought such an opportunity will come his way when he first started playing this sport.

“This was unexpected for me (his move to Spain). I never thought of this. After coming out of this academy, I just thought of playing for any professional club. I just want to thank God for giving me this wonderful opportunity and also the Spanish coach (Eduard). He just came like an angel and took me to Spain,” said Mark.

“The Spanish coach directly chose me when I was playing for this academy,” added Mark about how he was scouted to play for the Spanish club.

While there is still a long way, Mark said that playing alongside or against his idol Messi will be a dream come true.