The new batch of Masia nuggets is particularly promising. It must be said that only a few weeks ago, the U19 team of the club trained by former side Juliano Belletti won UEFA Youth League, the equivalent of the Champions League in its age category. And necessarily, Hansi Flick follows very closely all these young players who shone on European lawns, such as Toni Fernandez, Guille Fernandez and Jofre Torrents. He also fell in love with Pedro Fernandez alias Dro, only 17 -year -old winger, who even scored during his beginnings against Vissel Kobe as a friendly Sunday.
Young people who will therefore have an opportunity to follow the steps of Pau Cubarsi, Hector Fort, Lamine Yamal or Gerard Martin and make a more or less important place in the first team. Only, if there are a lot of Success Stories Who have taken place lately with young people from the Barcelona Academy, there are also players who preferred to pack their suitcases. Between increased competition and expensive places in the first team, and often more interesting offers financially elsewhere, several young people from Barça have decided to leave since the end of the season, like Arnau Pradas, Pau Prim, Unai Hernandez or Aleix Garrido.
Management is worried
And right now, there is a new player who could leave Catalonia. It was Jan Virgili, a very promising 19 -year -old striker who had caught Hansi Flick's eye during these first summer training sessions. Considered a player capable of having a role with the A and with a potential higher than that of the names mentioned above, he decided to leave. It must be said that for the moment, Barça does not guarantee him a place in the first team, and only offers him a place with team B which has just descended from the third division to the fourth division. A level he considers too low to continue his progress.
Everything indicates that he should leave the club to sign in Mallorca, in Liga. Barça wants to hold him back and convince him by explaining to him that Hensi Flick appreciates him and that he often gives young people his chance, but the player's decision seems to be taken. A case that clearly tense the direction. The problem in this story is that it risks reproducing, since with the relegation of Barça Atletic and the transition from the D3 to the D4, many young people will prefer to go only to play the fourth level of Spanish football. The D3 remained a competitive league and with a practically professional operation (despite a semi-pro status), but the level decreases drastically in D4, and it may cost the blaugranas dearly…
