By the numbers: Denis Suárez at FC Barcelona B

He may be the first star signing of Barça 2016/17, but Denis Suárez already wore the famous shirt in the 2013/14 shirt when he was at Barça B under manager Eusebio Sacristán. Here are some of the Galician’s standout stats from his time in the FCB reserves:

• He was born in Salceda de Caselas (Pontevedra, Galicia) and joined FC Barcelona at the age of 19 from Manchester City after first rising up through the youth ranks at Celta Vigo.
• The transfer became official on 22 August 2013 when he signed a contract until 2017.
• He made his debut for the B team on September 8 of that year in a Division 2A game against CD Tenerife. It ended 2-2 and he came on as a second half substitute.
• “The second division is very difficult because of the team’s idea of playing” he said afterwards. “We always want to have possession of the ball, but you adapt quickly to the style.”
• Wearing number ‘17’ on his back, Denis played 36 league games that term and scored seven goals and gave eleven assists.
• The first of those goals came on 5 January 2014 at the Prado de Santo Domingo, home of Alcorcón. The game ended 2-2, and Suárez went on to score in six out of seven matches.
• “All the players in the reserves are aiming to get into the first team”, he once said in an interview with the ADN Barça show on Barça TV.   
• And that dream has finally come true for Suárez, now 22, after one year on loan at Sevilla and then being transferred in 2015 to Villarreal. Next stop, the Camp Nou!