Koeman Wants Barcelona Youngster Dubbed 'New Cristiano Ronaldo' To Do Only One Thing

Barcelona coach Ronald Koeman only has one assignment for Francisco Trincao this season – score goals.

A new breed of players has emerged in Barcelona this season, including 20-year-old Trincao, whom Spanish media has reportedly dubbed “new Cristiano Ronaldo.” In a recent exclusive interview with La Vanguardia, the Portuguese forward said he wants to be “a reference” in Barca.

Trincao also revealed what the newly appointed coach wants from him this season.

“[Ronald] Koeman talks to me a lot and what he asks me most is that I be myself, that I try to score goals,” said Trincao, who made his official Barcelona and 2020-21 La Liga season debut on Sunday's 4-0 win against Villarreal.

“I am a young player who still has to improve in all aspects, who has to analyze his games and who has to see what he is doing well and what he is doing wrong to evolve,” he added.

Trincao played his first Barcelona game in the pre-season match against Gimnastic on Sept. 12. He didn’t find it hard to get used to the club’s culture and even made friends with his fellow Barcelona youngster Pedri, who just had his first-team call-up on Saturday.

“I arrived in Barcelona earlier for the start of the preseason while most of the team was preparing for the Champions League in Lisbon,” Trincao shared. “I was training while in Barcelona and the same thing happened to Pedri. We arrived together and we have become two people who have a very close relationship. But everyone has welcomed me perfectly.”

Koeman lauded Trincao after the friendly against Gimnastic. According to the Dutchman, though Trincao needs to improve his consistency, he has proven that he can play with the ball.

“Francisco Trincao has been excellent. Sometimes sticking to the line, other times not,” Koeman told the media after the match via Tribuna. “He was in rhythm when he had the ball.”

After being the joint top scorer at the European Under-19 Championship in 2018, Trincao joined Barcelona on a €31 million ($36 million) deal in January.

The Catalans are confident that the former Braga star will become one of the club’s future superstars and secured his services for five years with a staggering €500 million ($583 million) buyout clause injected in his contract.

Total Football Analysis claimed that Trincao has already been playing like Lionel Messi. According to its analysis, the youngster, just like Messi, is a highly versatile forward who is most effective when given a free license on either of the flanks.