FC Barcelona have long been reliant on La Masia during times of difficulty and their famed academy has almost never disappointed. Having given the club the foundation for one of the best generations of footballers to have ever played the game back in 2007-08, it looks like history is set to repeat itself again.
Just like the Xavi, Andres Iniesta, Sergio Busquets, Lionel Messi, and Gerard Pique times, the current Barcelona team has Gavi, Lamine Yamal, Pau Cubarsi, Alejandro Balde, Fermin Lopez and the latest star – Marc Casado.
Casado was Barca Atletic’s captain last season and despite being called up to numerous matchday squads by Xavi Hernandez, he hardly ever got a look in. Despite this, the €15m-rated youngster continued to toil hard and has reaped the rewards with Hansi Flick making him one of the main players in his team.
Now, as per SPORT, Casado has emerged as a role model for the reserve team players, who now know that should they put in the hard work, the call-up to the first team could just be around the corner.
The likes of Gavi, Lamine, Ansu, and Cubarsi have created the impression that if you don’t make it to the first team from La Masia by 16 or 17, your chances may be slim.
However, nothing could be further from the truth. These four players are outliers, possessing remarkably advanced skills at such young ages. Most players are more likely to follow the path of Marc Casadó, where only hard work and perseverance will secure a place in Hansi Flick’s plans.
The report claims that Barca Atletic boss Albert Sanchez has mentioned Casado as a role model to his players for his sheer perseverance. The quarry team manager’s message is simple – if you keep putting in the hard yards, Hansi Flick is watching!
The German boss, a day after his team came up with that incredible performance at the Santiago Bernabeu, was seen at the Johan Cruyff Arena watching Barca Atletic and taking notes on players who he could call up to the first team in the near future.
For someone who doesn’t have a Barcelona background, Hansi Flick has placed immense trust in the academy and Casado is one of the many benefactors. The German boss has shown the club that they don’t need to look outside when they have solutions to a problem within.
Before the emergence of Marc Casado (and to an extent, Marc Bernal), Barcelona were struggling to find a pivot that would fit their game style. The 21-year-old has now become one of the stars of the first team and let’s hope he can perform at a similar level for years to come.
