Óscar Gistau Ferréño is one of the big names emerging from La Masia in recent months. Originally from Salou and born in 2008, he has established himself as a center forward with enormous potential. At 17 years old, he's already competing for Barça Atlètic and is inevitably drawing comparisons with top-level references.
His breakthrough hasn't gone unnoticed by the youth academy coaches, who see him as ready for more. In a club always in need of reliable forwards, Gistau is starting to appear in future projections. His style, close to that of a modern classic number nine, makes him a highly desired profile.
A striker with physicality and reference-point scoring
Standing 5 ft. 11 in. tall (1.81 meters), the forward dominates in aerial play and makes a difference in the box. His powerful finishing and mobility make him a constant threat to opposing defenses. His goal-scoring instinct is reminiscent of strikers from the past, with the ability to decide matches.
La Masia coaches highlight his maturity to step up in important moments despite his young age. Far from being intimidated by older opponents, he uses his physique and technical ability to gain prominence. This combination has allowed him to quickly settle in at Barça Atlètic, a step ahead of what was desired.
At a time when Barça needs to plan for the future of its attack, his name is gaining momentum. Lewandowski is facing the final stretch of his career, while the technical department is looking for future alternatives. Gistau, still in development, represents the hope of a replacement with the club's identity and his own DNA.
Meteoric career in youth soccer
Gistau began his journey at Fundación Fútbol Base Reus before joining La Masia. His arrival at Barça was marked by an immediate impact, showing he could compete in higher categories. At 15 years old, he was already alternating matches between Juvenil B and Juvenil A, with great success.
That season, he scored fourteen goals across all competitions, spread between Liga Nacional, División de Honor, and Copa. Those numbers caught the attention of the technical staff, who decided to accelerate his promotion to more demanding soccer. The decision was correct: his performance proved he was ready to make the leap.
In the UEFA Youth League, he also made his mark, although he didn't manage to score in the initial phase. His ability to create danger and assist his teammates made him an important piece in the tournament. His performance confirmed that he wasn't weighed down by the pressure of elite European youth soccer.
The magical night against Bayern
The match that changed his status came against Bayern Munich in the Youth League. In that game, he scored a spectacular brace, leading the blaugrana to a three-one victory. His first goal came with a brilliant technical move, while the second was a powerful long-range shot.
That brace definitively catapulted him as one of the great prospects of the blaugrana academy. Media and coaches agreed in pointing him out as a forward with a bright future ahead. His name started to be heard beyond the academy, even reaching the orbit of the first team.
The club's fans also began to take notice of him, seeing him as a hope for the future. His modern classic striker style fits what Camp Nou has always valued in a "9." Many already compare him to Lewandowski, although adapted to the academy's play style.
On October 27, 2024, he made his debut with Barça Atlètic in Primera Federación against Barakaldo. It was the starting point for him to establish himself as a forward clearly progressing toward greater responsibilities. Since then, he has gained valuable experience and minutes in a highly demanding physical and tactical competition.
With a contract until 2027, Óscar Gistau is a clear bet for the future by the sporting management. His presence in Spain's U-17 national team confirms that he also has international experience. At Barça, they believe that if he keeps up this growth, he could soon appear under Flick's orders.
In short, Óscar Gistau is the forward of the future who excites the academy and the club's fans. With Barça DNA, privileged physique, and an innate goal-scoring instinct, he represents the striker the club needs. Camp Nou may have found in him the natural successor to the great Lewandowski.