VIDEO: Ex-Barca youngster's incredible skill to score first Marseille goal
Robin Bairner
- 29 Jul 2021 14:29 BST
- 3 min read
Konrad de la Fuente was one of the first players out of the door at Barcelona this summer as they attempt to raise money to stabilise the club’s perilous financial state.
The 20-year-old once-capped USA international featured on three occasions for Barcelona’s first team, though never in the Primera Division.
Now, having been sold for just €3.5 million, albeit with Barcelona retaining 50% of the rights to any future sale, De la Fuente has set about showing his former club what he can do.
He scored his first Marseille goal in a friendly encounter against Saint-Etienne on Wednesday – and it was a strike to remember.
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Konrad de la Fuente: Quick off the mark
After the ball was won high up the field just two minutes into the match, De la Fuente quickly realised the possibilities and started charging down the left. When a pass came to him, however, it was apparently too far behind him to do anything effective with. However, he pivoted brilliantly to drag it into an effective position before drilling it into the goal.
Former Barcelona youngster Konrad de la Fuente with a stunning piece of control to grab Marseille's opener in a 2-1 win over Saint-Etienne last nightpic.twitter.com/rXIEZEoqqR
— Robin Bairner (@RBairner) July 29, 2021
Marseille would go on to win the match 2-1, with Alvaro Gonzalez heading the winning goal with a couple of minutes remaining.
Nevertheless, it was Konrad’s performance that caught the eye of the OM support.
Marseille fan site Le Phoceen gushed: “Against Saint-Etienne, Konrad attacked with his foot to the floor, which seems to be his reason for being on the pitch… Konrad did not just open the scoring. Like what he showed in previous appearances, he’s shown he can defend well on his left side. Electric support, incessant dribbling and a big burst of speed are the essential tools of his panoply.”
While Marseille are dreaming of the damage that Konrad de la Fuente will do defences in France this season, Barcelona can only hope he continues along this level to secure them a big pay day in the months or years ahead.
