FC Barcelona has a dilemma that must be addressed moving forward. The Catalan giants have a strong squad to their name, but even it is not without its faults. For now, one of the main concerns remains that of the pivot position within the Blaugrana camp.
Currently, former La Masia player Oriol Romeu is at the helm of the position. Acting as the only specialist in the team, much of the reliance to perform in that position is on him alone. While there are others, like Ilkay Gundogan, who can play there, they are not the specialists Barça needs.
As a result of both this and the fact that they have an extremely limited spending ability, the Catalans need to be smart. They may not possess the ability to go after the biggest of names, but they can rely on their own subsidiary, as per SPORT.
Here are five youngsters who could help Barcelona cover the pivot role without having to spend big:
Marc Casado (21 years old)
Experience: Regular starter with Barcelona Atletic
Considered to be among the protagonists in Barça Atletic, Marc Casado is a certified gem in the making. Already trusted by Xavi enough to have been included in the first team, his intense style of play and relentless energy are both highly commendable traits. Moreover, his technical ability is second to none, and is quite reliable when on the ball.
Marc Bernal (16 years old)
Experience: Juvenil A/Barça Atletic
An age fellow of Lamine Yamal’s, the defensive midfielder is truly an impressive sportsman. Possessing both technical quality and an imposing physical presence, he appears to be a complete midfielder.
His journey began with Yamal, and it will be interesting to see if he soon catches up with him as well. He is widely considered one of the biggest revelations in the subsidiary this season.
Pau Prim (17 years old)
Experience: Juvenil A/Barça Atletic
Considered by SPORT to be the ideal prototype of a ‘6’, Prim possesses incredible vision on the field. Moreover, he has an ability to use both feet equally as effectively and this consequently allows him to never be in a position where he is trapped on a weaker foot to make something happen. His passing is pristine and his ability to find the best of spaces is also something to keep in mind.
Dani Avila (16 years old)
Experience: Juvenil B/Youth A
A player that can be used both as an interior and a pivot, Dani Avila is quite versatile. His primary quality as a pivot is his defensive positioning and ability to send accurate long balls upfront. Moreover, he is quite a useful asset whenever he joins the attack as well considering his powerful shooting and exemplary offensive positioning.
Wesley Dual (16 years old)
Experience: Juvenil B
Arguably the player with the least experience on this list, Wesley is still a great talent. Primarily an interior but also quite effective as a pivot, Wesley is a true machine in midfield. Tireless when it comes to running as much as possible on the field, his recovery game is strong and his positioning is almost always precise.
While none of these players are experienced veterans and will definitely take time to find their footing, they are a great option for Barcelona to consider nonetheless. Possessing massive talent and zero cost, these youngsters may just be the ideal choice for Xavi moving forward.
