Barcelona have officially released the list of players they have called upon to represent La Blaugrana in the UEFA Europa League. With the main team naturally a part of it all, the inclusion of a handful of talented youngsters from Barcelona’s own youth teams does attract attention.
Unable to qualify through the UEFA Champions League group stages earlier this season, Barcelona now look to play their share in Europe in the secondary UEFA Europa League. Up against Manchester United of all teams next in the Round of 32 that will be a two-legged affair, the recent list of players being called upon for the competition sees the likes of Angel Alarcon, Chadi Riad, and Aleix Garrido amongst others included.
Chadi Riad (defender, aged 19), Angel Alarcon (forward, aged 18), and Aleix Garrido (midfielder, aged 18) see themselves included as players from the subsidiary by Xavi in the 28-man list alongside other youngsters. Moreover, while players like Alejandro Balde are now more ever-present within the first team dynamics, he too is going to be associated as a player from the subsidiary.
Gavi, recently registered within La Liga as a first-team player and now donning the storied number 6 on his back, will have to wait when it comes to European competitions until next season to be present as a first-team member.
UEFA does not allow players to be promoted as such during a singular season, thus Gavi will also be an addition through the subsidiary for the competition and will have to don his previous number 30 for the Europa League.
The first match in the competition will take place on the 16th of February at the Spotify Camp Nou, when Barcelona will welcome in-form English side Manchester United to their Catalan home, before traveling to Manchester for the second leg on the 23rd of February.
The full list released by FC Barcelona for the players selected is as follows:
Goalkeepers:
- 1: Marc-André ter Stegen
- 2: Iñaki Peña
- 3: Arnau Tenas
- 4: Ander Astralaga
Defenders:
- 1: Ronald Araujo
- 2: Jules Kounde
- 3: Andreas Christensen
- 4: Alejandro Balde
- 5: Jordi Alba
- 6: Sergi Roberto
- 7: Marcos Alonso
- 8: Eric García
- 9: Marc Casadó
- 10: Chadi Riad
Midfielders:
- 1: Sergio Busquets
- 2: Pedri
- 3: Gavi
- 4: Frenkie De Jong
- 5: Franck Kessie
- 6: Pablo Torre
- 7: Aleix Garrido
Forwards:
- 1: Robert Lewandowski
- 2: Ousmane Dembélé
- 2: Raphinha
- 3: Ansu Fati
- 4: Ferran Torres
- 5: Angel Alarcon
- 6: Ilias Akhomach
