The life of Bryan - the Spanish Beatle

There's an old story that the former Beatles member George Harrison gave around 4 million dollars to The Monty Python comedy crew to finish their controversial blockbuster "The life of Brian."

All critics aside, it was the only time that the two of the most popular British modern cultural phenomenons merged to create a piece that would shake some spirits, to say the least.

More than 40 years later, another Beatle-like guy called Bryan is slowly emerging on the scene and threatening to cause disturbance around the planet. Only this time, he is from Spain, has only 19 years, and uses his left foot as a ticket to glory.

Bryan Gil Salvatierra, or if you prefer The Beatle from Barbate - how they call him for his colourful hometown of Barbate on the coast of Andalucia - is becoming a household name in Spanish football. La zurda. Left-footed. This prolific winger uses his right leg only to run away from the defenders on the flank. Gil started his journey in the youth setup of Sevilla FC. As a youngster, his father would take him to Seville five times a week, a 300km round trip from his home. It was during the trips that he would find the time to do his homework and study.

After a successful stint in Sevilla B in 2018/2019, he made his maiden appearance in La Liga on 6 January 2019, coming on as a late substitute in a 1–1 home draw against Atlético Madrid. He netted his first on 25 April to conclude a 5–0 win over Rayo Vallecano that made him the first child of the 21st century to net in Spain's top flight with only 18 years and 73 days!

The following 31 January, he moved to fellow top-tier side CD Leganés on loan for the remainder of the season, after which he was sent on another short-term hardening to his current club SD Eibar.

"From the first hour, the bosses of the Sevilla saw the innate talent of him. Left-handed winger, he enjoys privileged ball handling, overflows, and dribbles. His virtues have been polished little by little, both his physical and his technical and tactical conditions. For example, a born dribbler, he was advised to do so only in danger zones, and in finishing his plays." expresses Carlos Vizcaino, a Spanish journalist from a local Seville Estadiodeportivo.

Alongside Pedri, Ansu Fati, Yéremi Pino, and Rodri, The Beatle from Barbate is a part of that stand-out Z generation of Spanish football. They could easily dominate the world in decades to come and prove themselves as legitimate heirs of Xavi, Iniesta, Sergio Ramos, and Fernando Torres.

"He shows the ball, saves it, it seems that the rival has the advantage to take the ball from him, and he puts the toe-in. The rebounds fall to him. He has those things that the greats have", says Andoni Azkargorta, Eibar assistant coach, in El País.

In-depth analysis shows that his only two weaknesses are - and we'll quote those football geeks on that one - aerial duels and a lack of tackles. It would be great to see what musical critics used to say about those Liverpool-based prospects in the late '50s or to have an insight into the film reviews back in the early '70s regarding that sketch comedy.

Not all the heroes war caps, at least in the beginning.

Take a chance on this boy. He could be for something big.

By: BOJAN BABIC