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Twente’s young talent Ruud Nijstad has revealed that his long-term dream is to play alongside Pau Cubarsi at Barcelona, after being inspired by the Spaniard’s commanding performance against Cristiano Ronaldo. Nevertheless, the promising Dutch defender emphasised that his present focus remains firmly on continuing his progress with the Eredivisie side.

Nijstad shares his Barcelona ambition

Barcelona seem to have already secured one half of their future central defensive partnership in Cubarsi, who has become a mainstay in the first team and continues to shine for Spain. Nijstad, an emerging 18-year-old defender from Twente, is seen as a potential complement to the young star. The Dutchman, who has been previously linked with a move to the Catalan giants, has now openly spoken about his desire to one day line up alongside Cubarsi at Camp Nou.

The Dutch defender’s admiration for Cubarsi

Speaking to Sportnieuws, Nijstad discussed his aspirations while making clear that he remains committed to developing his game at Twente despite rumours about his future. He explained that watching Cubarsi’s composed performance against Ronaldo during Spain’s 1-0 victory over Portugal in the round of 16 at the 2026 World Cup strengthened his respect for the Barcelona defender and reinforced his own long-term objective.

“I saw him (Cubarsi) play against Cristiano Ronaldo and really enjoyed watching him,” Nijstad admitted. “I don’t expect things to move that quickly for me, but playing for FC Barcelona and forming a central defensive partnership with Cubarsi would, of course, be my ultimate goal. For now, though, I want to keep developing at Twente. I still have a lot to learn here.”

A profile that fits Barcelona’s vision

Nijstad broke through impressively at Twente last season, making 24 appearances and establishing himself as a regular starter in the latter stages of the campaign. The left-footed centre-back is regarded as one of the brightest young prospects in Dutch football, and his skill set aligns with Barcelona’s focus on signing top young players with long-term potential. His previous links with the Catalan club have only increased the attention surrounding his development.

Development remains his main focus

For now, Nijstad aims to continue building on his breakthrough season at Twente by achieving greater consistency at senior level. If his development continues on its current upward path, Barcelona’s reported interest could intensify in future transfer windows, as the club continues to evaluate long-term defensive reinforcements.