It seems that the fortunes of FC Barcelona come from within rather than from outside. Even in times of financial mismanagement and crisis, the Catalan club manages to stay afloat as a team. However, Barcelona owe much of the credit for that to their own quarry and youth academy.
The names of players such as the prodigious Lamine Yamal, Hector Fort, Pau Cubarsi, Fermin Lopez, and Marc Guiu were not at all household ones before this season. Now, within their first proper season of being integrated into the first team, they have all exploded to life.
With Joan Laporta knowing the value of La Masia to Barcelona, this trend will likely continue. As this core of youngsters becomes more and more incorporated within the first team, new ones will continue arriving as well hoping to become the next big thing.
And rest assured, there are many waiting in line. As highlighted by SPORT, a great 22 young talents have been highlighted as the standouts of the quarry coming up. These include players from different positions of the field, although most of them are exceptionally gifted midfielders.
Marc Bernal (Defensive midfielder):
When it comes to looking for a defensive pivot, Barcelona really only have two elite options. One of those two is Marc Bernal, who primarily stands out for his physical attributes and the ability to ensure the ball stays in the possession of his team.
Pau Prim (Defensive midfielder):
The second of the two defensive midfield options, Pau Prim offers a more elegant approach. A master of technical qualities, he plays football from the eyes of a ‘6’ than a traditional defensive midfielder. He is Barça’s technical solution as compared to Bernal’s more physical approach.
Aleix Garrido (Interior):
One of the most exciting talents from the quarry, and one who has Xavi’s approval, Aleix Garrido has great potential. A regular call-up to the first team, he is yet to truly establish himself but his agile and technical nature make him quite the standout.
Unai Hernandez (Interior/Winger):
Able to play both as a midfielder and as a winger, Unai Hernandez is a dynamic starlet. His left foot is highlighted as being quite powerful and his explosiveness becomes too much for opponents to handle at times.
Quim Junyent (Interior):
A standout in the Under-17 FIFA World Cup in Indonesia, Quim Junyent is a player Barcelona simply cannot look past. His primary asset is his elegance of play and the ability to fine-tune and control the ball with great mastery.
Juan Hernandez (Interior):
The other starlet from the Under-17 FIFA World Cup, Juan Hernandez is also a great talent to look out for. Good in terms of defensive statistics and making key interventions, his profile is also a unique one.
Guille Fernandez (Attacking midfielder):
Highlighted by SPORT as the most exciting offensive option in midfield that Barcelona has to offer, Guille Fernandez is truly special. Many consider him to be the next big thing from the subsidiary and rightfully so.
He possesses that dynamic edge that allows him to change the course of the game instantly. With a lethal shot, coupled with his strong physique and a genius-level understanding of the game, Guille Fernandez is definitely worth keeping an eye on.
Pedro Rodríguez (Interior):
This youngster shares more than just the name of a former Barcelona icon. Possessing great control, technical abilities, and a good understanding of timing and arrival, his admirers are plenty in the subsidiary ranks.
Michal Zuk (Interior):
Considered a ‘virtuo’ by SPORT, Michal Zuk is a player with great technical abilities. He has origins from Poland.
Ebrima Tunkara (Interior):
A player with great physical prowess, Ebrima Tunkara also possesses the ability to score great goals whenever the opportunity presents itself to him.
Orian Goren (Interior):
Hailing from the Middle East, Orian reportedly possesses elegance and is capable in the wide zones.
Oscar Gistau (Modern number ‘9’):
A player with a great eye for space and capability of agility, Oscar Gistau is a proper modern striker. His ability to carve out openings and also ensure space is generated for his teammates makes him a lethal component in any attack.
Dani Rodriguez (Winger):
Regarded by SPORT as being very technically gifted and also powerful, this left-footed winger is also quite lethal in front of goal. His goal contributions this season speak for themselves and he promises to be a great addition to any frontline he joins.
Toni Fernandez (False ‘9’):
Able to combine both efficiency and elegance, Toni Fernandez is a player with great ability and intelligence. All of those traits combine to make him an effective false 9 if the coach needs him to act as one.
Diego Kochen and Yako (Goalkeepers):
Often called up by Xavi but never made use of, both Diego Kochen and Aron Yaakobishvili are considered as great goalkeepers from the subsidiary. For now, their relevance within the first team does seem condemned to the bench, unfortunately.
Some impressive defenders:
While defensive talents from La Masia standout out are not a normality, with Pau Cubarsi being an exception, there are some names worth keeping an eye on. Andres Cuenca, Navarro, Leo Saca, Landry Farre, Guillem Victor, and Raul Exposito are the names highlighted by SPORT.
