Hello all, welcome back to the blog. As Barcelona’s exploits with young players have taken a massive spike this season, you may think that that may be that when it comes to new academy graduates impressing in the first team, but you’re wrong. Barcelona’s La Masia academy and B-Team players are still impressing and just waiting for their breakthroughs. Today, I’ll take you through 10 players from their academy and underage levels that are set to impress in the near future. And just players who haven’t made their senior debuts yet, so no Hector Fort, Pau Cubarsi, or Marc Guiu. We’ll also be sorting this list from oldest to youngest
Pau Victor
At 22 years old and only on loan at Barca from Girona, Pau Victor has it against the odds to succeed at Barca, that’s for sure. However, the forward has been doing it all to try to succeed. In 19 games so far in the third division, he’s scored 14 times and assisted 3 times, and has made the bench for Barca quite a few times. However, with the Friendlies and games against 3rd division sides over, as well as Xavi favouring Vitor Roque and Marc Guiu as strikers ahead of Victor, his best choice may just be to try to make it at Girona.
Mikayil Faye
A new signing, the 19-year old has been a stalwart for the B-team so far, and The Center back is just waiting for his chance with the senior team. He impressed Xavi and his team in preseason training, and Xavi toyed with the idea of giving him some decent minutes, but decided against it. Hopefully we can see something from Faye before the end of the season.
Unai Hernandez
Signed from Girona in 2022. Hernandez is now also a stalwart with the B-team at the age of 19. The midfielder has played 17 matches, scoring 4 times with 3 assists. The midfielder has also featured on the bench a lot for Barcelona recently, and we could see him make his debut soon as well.
Pau Prim
This 17-year old is one of the candidates to be the heir to Busquets. Barca have 2 potential candidates so far, and Prim is the older of the two. He’s not been too active in the B-Team, but is a prime candidate for the soon-to-be open pivot position, as Oriol Romeu will likely depart in the summer. If Kimmich signs, though, the most we’ll see of him next season is likely rotational.
Noah Darvich
Signed this summer from Freiburg, Noah Darvich is an absolute standout for Barca so far. He’s played quite a bit between the B-Team and U-19 team. The Attacking midfielder is a type of player Barcelona haven’t really had in a while, and representing Germany at youth level, if a German manager like Hansi Flick comes in in the summer, perhaps the 17-year old will finally thrive on the first team level.
Marc Bernal
This is the other candidate for the pivot role. Bernal, 16 years old, Bernal has been playing more for the B-Team than Prim, and also has games for the U19s as well. It’s expected that soon, Bernal may have a Pau Cubarsi-type integration into the first team, and I hope he can fill the Busquets-shaped void in the team. However, we mustn’t forget that we should give him time, as Busquets didn’t play a match for Barca until he was 20.
Guille Fernandez
This is one of those “you’re hearing them here first” names for Barca. Guille is currently 15, and rising the ranks of Barca’s youth teams. He is now playing in Juvenil A, the highest level for Barca before the B-Team, also known as the U19s. He’s made the bench of the B-Team, played a few matches in the UEFA Youth League, and I can’t wait to see the midfielder’s development.
Oscar Gistau
Another Barca forward who’s a “you’re hearing them first”, as are the rest of these guys to be honest, Gistau is another U19 player at just 15 years old, and he’s made 3 UEFA Youth League appearances as well, getting an assist in that time. The Center forward has loads of promise, and you’ll hear lots about him in the next few years, I’m sure.
Roberto Tomas
In the U16s at 14, Roberto Tomas is an interesting player, but one we’ll have to wait for. He’s just waiting for his opportunity to rise the ranks. Tomas can play from center midfield to center forward, an odd combination. However, let’s just let him develop in peace.
Ruslan Mba
Yes, this guy, at 13, is even younger than Tomas. The first ever player I’ve covered on this blog who was born in the 2010s, Mba has been part of Barca since before 2020, and is a quick and pacey winger, getting many Barca fans excited. He is definitely a player to watch out for in the future.
Well, these are some of the players you should watch out for in the future for Barcelona. I can’t wait to look back at this list in a few years, and see who I’ve got right and wrong. I’m Jim James, until next time!