It is now more clear than ever that Barcelona can not separate itself from its youth. Without this special connection, one that many clubs undoubtedly envy, Barça would not be the club it is today. Yet, it is also simultaneously important to show that appreciation be reciprocated by Barcelona.
Oftentimes, that is done through the means of new contracts or new youth arrivals. However, another key method of continuously showing trust in the youth is by giving them more opportunities to connect and play in close proximity with the first team.
That is exactly what new Barcelona head coach Hansi Flick is currently doing, as he has called upon players from various youth teams at Barça to participate in the first team’s preseason preparations. Whether they arrive from Barcelona Atletic, the Juvenil sides, or even if they are from a Cadet team, Flick is willing to give everyone a chance.
As highlighted by SPORT, the former Bayern Munich coach is especially intrigued by Barça’s youth system. He believes that this foundation is key to revealing hidden gems from within the quarry that can end up elevating Barcelona either in the long term or even in the medium term.
Moreover, the report highlights just how crucial Thiago Alcantara has been in this process. His deep knowledge of the Barcelona system, both at the youth level and the first team, has made him an invaluable asset both to the German coach and also to the youngsters who can directly associate with him.
He is also able to act as a direct translator for Flick, courtesy of his proficiency in both Spanish and German, and can help improve the accuracy of the directions given by Flick to the team. In many ways, Thiago is irreplaceable for Flick when it comes to addressing the youth of the team.
Furthermore, the German coach himself is reportedly quite attentive to the sessions that are being conducted in order to get the best possible understanding of all the young pearls at his disposal. His belief remains that shaping them early on could be greatly beneficial to the club as well.
From the Fernandez cousins to the German talent of Noah Darvich, alongside talents that include the likes of Gerard Martin, Unai Hernandez, Marc Bernal, and several others, Flick values each and every single player at his disposal. There have been many revelations in the past years from the youth divisions of the club, and Flick hopes to continue that trend.
