Tommy Marqués is one of the most intriguing stories inside Barça Atlètic this season. A midfielder who has taken the long road to success, Tommy is now emerging as a reliable ‘number 6’ for the reserve team. His journey has been anything but straightforward.
As a young player, he was a small, creative interior known for his agility and technique. However, a serious cruciate ligament injury during his cadet years and a significant growth spurt forced him to adapt his entire style of play to a new physical reality.
It was not easy. To regain confidence in his body and rhythm, he had to go on loan to CF Damm, where he finally found the continuity he needed. While others from his generation, such as Alexis Olmedo, Arnau Pradas, Pau Prim, and Marc Guiu, were drawing attention, Tommy quietly built his own path. His perseverance has now turned him into a dependable midfielder capable of influencing games even when starting from the bench.
Winning Belletti’s Trust
Last season, Belletti often relied on Tommy in key moments for the Juvenil A team. His combination of energy, tactical discipline, and intelligence made him the perfect player to come on when the game demanded calm and control.
Now, injuries in the squad have opened a door for him in Barça Atlètic. With Guille sidelined, Tommy has seized the chance to show his worth. In the recent victory over Reus, Belletti lined him up alongside Roger Martínez, a summer signing from Espanyol, and Fariñas, who found the net in that game. The result was a midfield that perfectly balanced dynamism and structure.
After the match, Tommy explained one of the keys behind the team’s strong start to the season: unity.
“We’re really united off the pitch, and that helps a lot,” he said with maturity beyond his years.
When asked about his football inspirations, the young midfielder had no doubts.
“From the first team, I really like Frenkie de Jong. I think he has qualities similar to mine, and I pay a lot of attention to how he plays. From earlier years, I’d say Busquets, who’s a real reference for me.”
A Midfield Overflowing with Talent
This season, Belletti has an impressive variety of options in midfield. Players like Fariñas, Tommy, Guille, Quim, Pedro Rodríguez, Roger, Dro, Juan Hernández, and Toni all offer different profiles and characteristics. The challenge will be to manage minutes in such a deep and talented squad.
Some of these youngsters, including Dro and Toni, have even stepped up to the first team recently due to the injury crisis affecting Hansi Flick’s squad. Their versatility allows them to cover attacking midfield and wide roles when needed, which has made them valuable temporary additions to the senior side.
The Future Looks Bright
For Tommy Marqués, this is a defining season. His progress from a loan spell to becoming a trusted presence in Barça Atlètic’s midfield reflects resilience and maturity. By studying players like Frenkie de Jong and Sergio Busquets, Tommy is shaping himself into the kind of midfielder that embodies Barça’s DNA.
If he keeps developing at this rate, it might not be long before the young Catalan makes the leap from the Miniestadi to the Estadi Olímpic.
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