At the moment, there is a major injury crisis at FC Barcelona across the entire team. From the goalkeepers all the way to the frontline, almost every position has a key player sidelined. However, fortunately for Barcelona, the club’s academy and subsidiary continue to provide alternatives.
The likes of Marc Guiu, Hector Fort, and Pau Cubarsi are just a few examples of this. Even Lamine Yamal and Fermin Lopez, who have transformed the first team with their explosiveness this season, hail from the Barcelona quarry. Now, it seems that Xavi has already found his next diamond in the making.
Aged 18, Dani Rodriguez is Xavi’s newest bet from the Barcelona subsidiary as per SPORT. Primarily a midfielder, the left-footed technician is a great blend of calm composure and vicious impact. In fact, he is among the subsidiary’s most promising prospects.
He was recently included by the Barcelona first team coach in the team’s latest training. Possessing great technical control, versatility, and the ability to unbalance opponents, Rodriguez is an anomaly who has all the assets at his disposal to become an elite midfielder. He also possesses a lethal shot from distance, one that causes defenses a lot of problems to deal with.
Originally catching the eye of Barcelona at the age of 14 while playing for Real Sociedad, his talent attracted increasing attention from various European clubs, including PSG. However, it was Barcelona that ultimately succeeded in securing his services.
Since then, he has been climbing the ranks of the Barcelona subsidiary. Having most recently been an integral part of Barcelona Juvenil A, he has been proving himself quite prominently in the UEFA Youth League. Having scored and assisted in the same game against Shakhtar Donetsk, he clearly has something special.
Moreover, he has also frequently started being relied upon by Rafa Marquez for Barça Atletic. The 18-year-old has also begun showing prominence for the Barcelona B side now, and it seemed to be only a matter of time before Xavi and the first team took notice of him.
