Former Barcelona winger Jan Virgili is quietly making his mark at Mallorca, where he has enjoyed a promising start to life in La Liga.
The 19-year-old has already featured in seven league matches, registering two assists and showing flashes of the creativity that once made him one of La Masia’s brightest prospects.
Virgili decided to leave Barcelona during the summer after recognising that breaking into Hansi Flick’s first-team plans would be an uphill battle.
The club sold 50% of his rights for a fee of €3.5 million, but wisely included a buy-back clause, keeping the door open for a possible reunion in the future.
Reflecting on his time and exit
In an interview with MARCA, Virgili reflected on his journey through the Barcelona system and shared his emotions about leaving the club he still calls home.
When asked about his time with Barça, he replied warmly, “Very good.
“I was there for a year, starting in the youth team, then moving up to the reserve team, scoring goals and having a week of preseason training with the first team.
“All of that gives you a name and visibility. I will always be grateful to Barça.”
The youngster also admitted that leaving the Catalan giants was far from easy. He explained,
“Very. It was a difficult decision, but I knew I wanted to play in the First Division. It was very difficult to get opportunities at Barça.
Jan Virgili is making waves at Barcelona. (Photo by Rafa Babot/Getty Images)
“I left in search of playing time and opportunities, although it hurt to leave the club.”
Wanted to succeed at Barcelona
Reflecting on his development, Virgili credited Barcelona for shaping his footballing mindset, especially the tactical aspects. He noted:
“To play with a lot of possession. At Barça, the wingers got a lot of balls, so you could try more.
“In other teams, you have fewer opportunities, and you have to be more focused.
“If you make three good plays, they’re worth more than 20 dribbles without a result.”
Despite moving on, Virgili’s affection for Barcelona remains as strong as ever. He revealed that succeeding at the club was always his dream.
“It was and always has been my dream. I’ve been a Barça fan all my life. If one day the doors to the first team open for me, I would be delighted.”
Wants to return someday
Even now, the young winger hasn’t given up hope of a future return to the Camp Nou. His words carried both nostalgia and ambition as he added,
“Yes. If I never return to Barça, I will always have that regret. I would have loved to make my debut with the first team, even if it was only for one day.
“But football doesn’t end there. Everyone has to make their own way and find their place. If you do well, the reward may come,” he concluded.