Barcelona currently possesses unrivaled riches in terms of their highly revered young talents and their place in football today. Already having won accolades of the highest order at an individual level, they continue to aspire for further greatness.
The impact of these young stars is noticeable, and it is key to the development of Barcelona as a whole. It is so evident in fact, that Deco and the Barcelona Directors want to tie them down for the future already. Three players in particular are the ones that the Sporting Director is most invested in.
Trident of talent
According to Spanish outlet Mundo Deportivo, the three players in question are Pedri, Pablo Gavi, and Ronald Araujo. The two Spaniards as well as the Uruguayan defender are crucial parts of the FC Barcelona project. Considered fundamental pieces of Xavi’s view of an ideal Barça side, their individual continuity is a great goal.
Uruguayan Pillar
Ronald Araujo is currently 24 years of age and hails from Uruguay. The South American defender offers leadership and defensive attributes hardly matched by many others in the world. His discovery has proven to be instrumental in helping Barcelona regain prominence on the European stage.
With his current contract set to expire in 2026, Deco and Co. want to extend it even beyond knowing full well that they want the Barcelona captain to continue even beyond their own reigns in the Blaugrana office.
Spanish centurion
Pablo Gavi is another interesting case. A pure product of La Masia with immense potential, he has fought his way into international stardom. A unique tenacity and relentless personality have captured Gavi’s essence into an unstoppable talent. His own contract expires at the same point as Araujo’s, and Gavi will only have turned around 22 years old by then.
His renewal is also a massive priority and he is seen as one of the faces of the Barcelona project. Valued at €90 million already, he is also the youngest centurion in FC Barcelona history. His importance is so crucial to Xavi that he was the third-most used player last season after Lewandowski and Ter Stegen. This season, only Ter Stegen, Jules Kounde, and Ilkay Gundogan have played more minutes.
€100 million poster boy
Lastly, the case of Pedri Gonzalez. Currently recovering from an injury, the young 20-year-old is expected to return soon. The highest-valued FC Barcelona player at €100 million, Pedri is absolutely untouchable for La Blaugrana. His return is highly anticipated by both the coaching staff and fans alike, and for good reason.
Set to turn 21 years of age in November, Pedri’s contract also runs out in 2026. By then, he will have become 23 years old and still only beginning his long journey ahead. Retaining him beyond that period is crucial for Barça, as they see him as one of the most talented players that world football has to offer.
Trusting the Captains
Others such as Frenkie De Jong and Marc Andre Ter Stegen are also seen as important pieces. The 26-year-old Dutchman and 31-year-old Goalkeeper are both captains of Barcelona and are expected to lead the club for years to come. De Jong has a contract until 2026, one that Barcelona hopes to extend, and Ter Stegen’s is in place until 2028, as Barça continues to maintain faith in the abilities of Ter Stegen.
