Marc Guiu is Barcelona’s 17-year-old ‘striker in the shadows’ who has to buy first-team dinner in McDonald’s after scoring 33 seconds into debut

Barcelona are always hunting for the same type of player — small, technically gifted and possession-based, the next Lionel Messi, Andres Iniesta or Xavi.

But in 17-year-old wonderkid Marc Guiu, the famed La Masia has produced something completely different, a 6ft 1in hulking No. 9.

The teenager is far from the typical Barca academy product, with teammates Lamine Yamal and Gavi making their senior bows at an earlier age.

Guiu stands out from the modern La Liga strikers and may have been fearing that a pathway to Camp Nou would have been blocked.

He is strong, fast, and direct with his strengths being playing on the shoulder rather than dropping deep to link up with midfielders.

However, an injury to Robert Lewandowski opened the door for Xavi to turn to him with Barcelona struggling to beat Athletic Bilbao on Sunday.

Guiu was introduced with just over 10 minutes left at the Olympic Stadium and took just 33 seconds to latch onto a pass from Joao Felix and slot home to seal a 1-0 victory.

The Spaniard, dubbed 'a striker in the shadows', by Sport, has now written himself into the club's history books having scored his first league goal for Barcelona quicker than any other player.

Barcelona manager Xavi said: «I told him he would have one good chance. I love seeing the face of these kids. They have no fear.»

“I can’t believe it, I’m short of breath,” Guiu said afterwards. “I’m enjoying the moment. This is unimaginable, but I’ve been working all my life to take advantage of opportunities and it’s come to me.

“Inigo [Martinez] has told me I won’t be able to sleep, but to enjoy it.”

Guiu won't have much time to enjoy it, with Barcelona gearing up for their biggest game of the season this weekend.

Spanish giants Barcelona and Real Madrid