Juan Bernat Explained

Juan Bernat
Full Name:Juan Bernat Velasco[1]
Birth Date:1 March 1993[2]
Birth Place:Cullera, Spain
Height:1.77 m[3]
Position:Left-back
Currentclub:Paris Saint-Germain
Youthyears1:2000–2011
Youthclubs1:Valencia
Years1:2011–2012
Caps1:24
Goals1:7
Years2:2011–2014
Caps2:51
Goals2:1
Years3:2014–2018
Caps3:76
Goals3:3
Years4:2018–
Caps4:89
Goals4:2
Years5:2023–2024
Clubs5:Benfica (loan)
Caps5:3
Goals5:0
Nationalyears1:2009
Nationalcaps1:3
Nationalgoals1:0
Nationalyears2:2009–2010
Nationalcaps2:11
Nationalgoals2:4
Nationalyears3:2012
Nationalcaps3:6
Nationalgoals3:0
Nationalyears4:2013
Nationalcaps4:7
Nationalgoals4:1
Nationalyears5:2013–2014
Nationalcaps5:7
Nationalgoals5:0
Nationalyears6:2014–2019
Nationalcaps6:11
Nationalgoals6:1
Club-Update:01:48, 18 May 2024 (UTC)

Juan Bernat Velasco (pronounced as /es/; born 1 March 1993) is a Spanish professional footballer who plays as a left-back for Ligue 1 club Paris Saint-Germain.

He began his career at Valencia, featuring in three La Liga campaigns for the club. He moved to Bayern Munich in 2014, winning the Bundesliga every season during his four-year spell while appearing in 115 competitive matches. In August 2018, he signed with Paris Saint-Germain, playing in the 2020 UEFA Champions League Final and losing to his former side Bayern Munich. He suffered an anterior cruciate ligament injury in September 2020 that would keep him out for over a year.

A European champion with the under-19 team in 2012, Bernat made his senior debut for Spain in 2014.

Club career

Valencia

Born in Cullera, Valencian Community, Bernat was a product of Valencia's youth system.[4] He made his senior debut at only 17, appearing with the reserves in the Tercera División and helping them to return to Segunda División B. He was brought to the main squad for the 2011 pre-season, scoring in a 3–0 away win against Sporting CP, and earned a professional contract until 2015 shortly after.[5]

Bernat made his debut with the Ches first team in a 4–3 La Liga home victory over Racing de Santander on 27 August 2011; he started the game and was replaced at half-time, with the score at 2–1 for the visitors.[6] His second league appearance occurred on 22 January 2012 in a 1–1 draw at Osasuna, substituting Jonas in the 57th minute.[7] He continued featuring regularly for the B's in the third tier.

Bernat scored his first official goal for Valencia on 28 November 2012, netting his team's last in a 3–1 home defeat of Llagostera for that season's Copa del Rey (5–1 on aggregate).[8] He scored his first in the league roughly one year later, coming from the bench for the 1–1 equaliser at Elche (eventual 2–1 loss).[9]

From 2013 onwards, Bernat started being utilised as a left-back.[10]

Bayern Munich

On 7 July 2014, Bernat signed for Bayern Munich on a five-year contract.[11] [12] He made his debut on 13 August, playing the entirety of the 2–0 defeat to Borussia Dortmund in the DFL-Supercup,[13] and played his first Bundesliga match nine days later, a 2–1 home win against VfL Wolfsburg.[14]

Shortly after being placed first in Outside of the Boot's Talent Radar Top 20 Young Players of 2014,[15] Bernat scored his first competitive goal for the Bavarians, but in a 4–1 loss at Wolfsburg on 30 January 2015.[16]

Paris Saint-Germain

On 31 August 2018, Bernat joined Paris Saint-Germain on a three-year deal,[17] replacing Yuri Berchiche who had left for Athletic Bilbao.[18] His Ligue 1 debut occurred on 14 September in a home fixture against Saint-Étienne, and played the full 90 minutes in the 4–0 win.[19] He scored his first competitive goal for the team on 6 November, in a 1–1 away draw with Napoli in the group stage of the UEFA Champions League;[20] in the following Champions League seasons, he would also score against Liverpool, Manchester United, Borussia Dortmund and RB Leipzig.[21]

On 16 September 2020, Bernat suffered an anterior cruciate ligament injury in a match against Metz; it was reported he would miss six months of action.[22] On 16 March 2021, he signed an extension to keep him at the club until 2025.[23] His return to play would come later than initially planned, on 15 October in a 2–1 league victory over Angers at the Parc des Princes.[24]

Loan to Benfica

On 1 September 2023, Bernat joined Benfica on a season-long loan.[25] He made his debut on 3 October, starting in a 1–0 defeat at Inter Milan in the Champions League group stage.[26] His maiden Primeira Liga appearance took place four days later, when he came off the bench for David Jurásek in the 77th minute of a 1–0 away win over Estoril;[27] he totalled only seven appearances during his spell, being often injured.[28] [29]

International career

Bernat moved through the Spanish international youth setup, representing all sides between the under-16s and the under-21s. He made his debut with the former in 2009, and with the under-17 side he reached the final at the 2010 UEFA European Championship, playing alongside Valencia teammate Paco Alcácer.[30]

In 2012, Bernat was part of the squad that won the Under-19 Championship in Estonia. On 3 October 2014, he was called up by full side manager Vicente del Bosque for UEFA Euro 2016 qualifying matches against Slovakia and Luxembourg:[31] he made his debut on the 12th against the latter, replacing Andrés Iniesta for the final 20 minutes and scoring the last goal of a 4–0 win.[32]

Career statistics

Club

[33] [34]

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
ClubSeasonLeagueNational cupLeague cupContinentalOtherTotal
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
2011–12Segunda División B2470000247
Valencia2011–12La Liga701020100
2012–13La Liga1203100151
2013–14La Liga32140131492
Total51181151743
Bayern Munich2014–15Bundesliga3115012010491
2015–16Bundesliga160308000270
2016–17Bundesliga182304200254
2017–18Bundesliga110001000120
Total763110252101135
Paris Saint-Germain2018–19Ligue 125160208300414
2019–20Ligue 1180201010210322
2020–21Ligue 13000000030
2021–22Ligue 1150100000160
2022–23Ligue 1281215010362
Total89211130235201288
Benfica (loan)2023–24Primeira Liga301010200070
Career total24313312406583034623

International

Appearances and goals by national team and year[35] !National team!!Year!!Apps!!Goals
Spain201421
201550
201940
Total111

Spain score listed first, score column indicates score after each Bernat goal.[35]

Honours

Bayern Munich

2014–15, 2015–16, 2016–17, 2017–18[33]

2015–16[33]

2016, 2018[33]

Paris Saint-Germain

2018–19, 2019–20,[36] 2021–22,[37] 2022–23[38]

2019–20[33]

2019–20[39]

2019,[40] 2022[41]

Spain U17

Spain U19

2012[42]

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Paris Saint-Germain 2–1 LOSC Lille SA. Ligue de Football Professionnel. fr. 2. 13 June 2019.
  2. Web site: Juan Bernat. Inter Star Deporte. 13 October 2020.
  3. Web site: Juan Bernat. Paris Saint-Germain F.C.. 18 April 2022.
  4. Web site: Juan Bernat, de la Sub-20 a la absoluta en un año. Juan Bernat, from the Under-20s to the full team in one year. Royal Spanish Football Federation. es. 4 October 2014. 18 October 2021. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20211020003453/https://www.sefutbol.com/juan-bernat-sub-20-absoluta-ano. 20 October 2021.
  5. News: La Primera División llama a Juan Bernat. First Division beckons Juan Bernat. Super Deporte. Pascual. Calabuig. es. 30 May 2012. 7 July 2014.
  6. Web site: Soldado late show sinks Santander. ESPN FC. 27 August 2011. 26 February 2016. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20121102053525/http://soccernet.espn.go.com/report/_/id/324016?cc=5739. 2 November 2012.
  7. News: Osasuna y Valencia dejan lo mejor para el final. Osasuna and Valencia leave best to the end. Marca. Manuel. Malagón. es. 22 January 2012. 7 July 2014.
  8. News: Por algo se empieza. You have to start somewhere. Marca. Ramiro. Aldunate. es. 28 November 2012. 7 July 2014.
  9. Web site: Herrera late show downs Valencia. ESPN FC. 24 November 2013. 7 July 2014.
  10. News: Juan Bernat se afianza en el lateral izquierdo. Juan Bernat getting stronger in left-back position. Las Provincias. es. 2 July 2013. 7 July 2014.
  11. Web site: Bayern sign Bernat. Bundesliga. 7 July 2014. 18 July 2014. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20140715141754/http://www.bundesliga.com/en/liga/news/2013/0000297178.php. 15 July 2014.
  12. Web site: Comunicado oficial. Official announcement. Valencia CF. es. 7 July 2014. 7 July 2014.
  13. Web site: German Supercup: Borussia Dortmund 2–0 Bayern Munich. BBC Sport. 13 August 2014. 25 August 2020.
  14. Web site: Bayern Munich 2–1 Wolfsburg: Robben and Muller seal narrow win. Goal. Alec. Fenn. 22 August 2014. 31 August 2014.
  15. Web site: Top 20 Young Players of 2014 (5–1) Talent Radar. Outside of the Boot. Sami. Faizullah. Arnab. Ray. 2 December 2014. 2 December 2014. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20220915104521/http://outsideoftheboot.com/2014/12/02/top-20-young-players-of-2014-5-1-talent-radar/. 15 September 2022.
  16. Web site: Bayern defence exposed in walloping at hands of Wolfsburg. ESPN FC. 31 January 2015. 1 February 2015.
  17. Web site: Juan Bernat signs for Paris Saint-Germain. Paris Saint-Germain F.C.. 31 August 2018. 31 August 2018.
  18. Web site: Juan Bernat, a versatile full-back. Paris Saint-Germain F.C.. 31 August 2018. 15 September 2018.
  19. Web site: Paris Saint Germain 4–0 Saint-Étienne. BBC Sport. 14 September 2018. 15 September 2018.
  20. Web site: Paris leave Naples with precious point. Ligue 1. 6 November 2018. 7 November 2018.
  21. News: Juan Bernat has shown prowess with defending and scoring. The Irish Times. Paul. Doyle. 21 August 2020. 17 September 2020.
  22. Web site: Paris Saint-Germain defender Bernat suffers ACL injury. beIN Sports. 17 September 2020. 17 September 2020.
  23. Web site: Juan Bernat extends his contract until 2025. Paris Saint-Germain F.C.. 16 March 2021. 9 November 2022.
  24. Web site: Juan Bernat to the moon after returning following year-long injury. One Football. Blaise. Bourgeois. 16 October 2021. 16 October 2021.
  25. Web site: Juan Bernat joins SL Benfica on season-long loan. Paris Saint-Germain F.C.. 1 September 2023. 1 September 2023.
  26. News: Bernat estreou-se pelo Benfica: «Não foi o melhor início, espero melhores momentos». Bernat debuted for Benfica: "It wasn't the best start, I expect better moments". Record. pt. 3 October 2023. 8 October 2023.
  27. Web site: Querer foi recompensado com voo para a 7.ª vitória seguida. Wanting was rewarded with flight to 7th win in a row. S.L. Benfica. pt. 8 October 2023. 8 October 2023.
  28. Web site: Schmidt confessa: «Época de Bernat podia ter sido diferente, mas lesões impediram». Schmidt admits: "Bernat's season could have been different, but injuries prevented it". CNN Portugal. pt. 28 March 2024. 18 May 2024.
  29. Web site: Bernat: «Saio triste por não conseguir desfrutar mais deste enorme clube». Bernat: "I leave sad that I was not able to enjoy more of this huge club". CNN Portugal. pt. 19 May 2024. 20 May 2024.
  30. News: Inglaterra se impone a España en la final del Europeo sub'17 de fútbol (1–2). England best Spain in under'17 football Euro final (1–2). 20 minutos. es. 30 May 2010. 11 September 2019.
  31. Web site: Chelsea's Diego Costa named in Spain squad. BBC Sport. 3 October 2014. 3 October 2014.
  32. Web site: Spain bounce back with Luxembourg success. UEFA. 12 October 2014. 18 October 2021.
  33. Web site: Juan Bernat. Soccerway. 7 May 2015.
  34. Web site: Juan Bernat. Kicker. de. 21 April 2018.
  35. Web site: Juan Bernat. EU-Football.info. 22 January 2016.
  36. Web site: Covid-19: la saison de Ligue 1 officiellement arrêtée, le PSG sacré champion. Covid-19: with Ligue 1 season officially halted, PSG crowned champions. France 24. fr. 30 April 2020. 1 May 2020.
  37. Web site: PSG crowned Ligue 1 champions after draw against Lens. The Athletic. Luke. Bosher. Jacob. Whitehead. 23 April 2022. 23 April 2022.
  38. Web site: PSG win record 11th French title. Yahoo! Sports. Andy. Scott. 27 May 2023. 29 May 2023.
  39. News: PSG beats Lyon on penalty kicks to win League Cup final. The Washington Post. 31 July 2020. 1 August 2020.
  40. Web site: Mbappé and Di Maria earn PSG first 2019–20 trophy. Ligue 1. 3 August 2019. 3 August 2019. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20190803150004/https://www.ligue1.com/tropheeChampions/article/mbappe-and-di-maria-earn-psg-first-2019-20-trophy.htm. 3 August 2019.
  41. Web site: A final, lots of goals and a trophy: a great start to the season!. Paris Saint-Germain F.C.. 31 July 2022. 31 July 2022.
  42. News: La sub´19, campeona de Europa. The under-19s, European champions. La Nueva España. es. 15 July 2012. 7 May 2015. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20200922140150/https://www.lne.es/deportes/2012/07/15/sub19-campeona-europa/1271022.html. 22 September 2020.