4 factors away from Real Madrid
©TM/IMAGO
Barcelona are undisputedly one of many greatest golf equipment on the planet however they’ve confronted excessive monetary hardship lately. It’s been reported that the Catalonia membership have amassed money owed of over €2 billion they usually’ve infamously pulled financial ‘levers’ – together with promoting off percentages of future broadcast income – to keep away from grave hazard. Barcelona president Joan Laporta additionally secured a €600m mortgage from Goldman Sachs to alleviate monetary pressures however they’ve confronted points in registering gamers on account of monetary guidelines.
That continued this summer time with Barcelona unable to register Dani Olmo for his or her season opener in opposition to Valencia on account of wage limits. Barca, nevertheless, allowed İlkay Gündoğan to depart totally free to wipe his wage and Olmo has made an on the spot impression with two objectives in his opening two video games. Barcelona have made the proper begin to the La Liga season below new boss Hansi Flick with 4 wins from 4 and their 7-0 nil demolition in opposition to Valladolid on Sunday ensured they entered the worldwide break 4 factors forward of arch rivals Real Madrid.
Barcelona’s sensible begin to the season below Hansi Flick
As has been the case lately, there was big uncertainty round how Barcelona would begin life below Flick, particularly as they’d a number of first-team stars injured. But it merely could not have gone a lot better with 4 consecutive wins, 13 objectives scored they usually sit high of La Liga – 4 factors forward of Real Madrid and Atlético Madrid. Their 7-0 win over Valladolid was their greatest win in virtually seven years and they’re enjoying some sensible soccer below Flick. Robert Lewandowski has 4 league objectives, Raphinha has three and Yamal leads La Liga with 4 assists.
It’s nonetheless far too early to label Barcelona as favourites to win La Liga – that continues to be Real Madrid – however there’s now a lot indicators of encouragement for the longer term, and that is primarily on account of La Masia. One silver lining from Barcelona’s monetary woes is the significance it locations on growing academy gamers with the Spanish giants merely unable to spend as recklessly because the previous. La Masia is arguably essentially the most prestigious academy on the planet however may it now save Barcelona?
Barcelona’s well-known La Masia academy
La Masia de Can Planes turned Barcelona’s academy headquarters within the late Nineteen Seventies and it has produced a number of world class abilities that had been central to their most profitable aspect below Pep Guardiola between 2008 and 2012. Louis van Gal was famously ridiculed for stating his dream of successful the Champions League with eleven homegrown gamers however Guardiola achieved that with eight La Masia graduates in 2009.
In November 2012, Barcelona fielded eleven gamers from La Masia in opposition to Levante and the three finalists for the 2010 Ballon d’Or all progressed by Barcelona’s academy – Lionel Messi, Andres Iniesta and Xavi. Those three World Class gamers had been integral to Guardiola’s Barcelona aspect that’s regarded by many as one of the best membership aspect in historical past. Sergio Busquetes, Carlos Puyol, Victor Valdes and Gerard Pique had been the opposite academy graduates from that aspect.
Will La Masia save Barcelona from monetary woes?
Flick’s managerial debut for Barcelona resulted in a powerful 2-1 win over Valencia. But arguably extra eye-catching was the German giving minutes to seven academy graduates in his first match in command of Barcelona. Flick additionally began three 17-year-olds on the Mestalla in Lamine Yamal, Pau Cubarsí and Marc Bernal. It was solely the second time within the twenty first century that Barcelona have began three U18 gamers, with Xavi reaching the feat in May 2024 when Hector Fort joined Cubrasi and Yamal within the beginning line-up.
The three 17-year-old’s began in Barcelona’s first three video games earlier than Bernal picked up a critical damage in opposition to Ray Vallecano and missed the rout over Valladolid. But has Flick’s hand compelled by accidents and their monetary state of affairs or is there a real hope that Barcelona’s academy graduates may kind the inspiration of one other profitable workforce. “It is difficult to say,” stated Ivan Fuente, La Liga skilled at Transfermarkt. “There are obviously very good players, but I think Barcelona are using them because of their financial problems. Most of them would not have the option of playing in the first team if they did not have money problems.” Barcelona re-signed Olmo from RB Leipzig for €55m however they now have 11 La Masia graduates of their first-team squad and will identify a powerful beginning eleven purely from these gamers – as illustrated within the graphic above.
Yamal dazzled for Spain at Euro 2024 and essentially the most useful teenager on the planet is the figurehead for a brand new period at Barcelona. Yamal, Gavi, Alejandro Balde, Olmo and Cubrasi symbolize the longer term at Barcelona – as may Bernal. The 17-year-old excelled on his full debut in opposition to Valencia in centre-midfield and he’s been in comparison with Barca nice Busquets however he is suffered a critical damage lately. Fuente added: “He might be probably the greatest of his era, however he performs able of nice accountability. Comparing him to Busquets or anticipating him to be Busquets simply now, is perhaps an excessive amount of strain for him.” It’s been a superb begin to the season for Barcelona and the sunshine on the finish of an extended, darkish tunnel is glowing brilliant.
