Sports
Five Youngsters Who Could Have A Big Impact On Barcelona
With the departure of Lionel Messi from Barcelona, there are youngsters who are set to take the same route he Messi once did as a youngster.
Here is a list of young players who could go on to influence the Catalan giants positively like Messi did.
Ansu Fati
18 years old
Spain
Forward
It was 323 long days out sidelined for the prodigy, the jewel in the crown at La Masia, but Fati offered a reminder of what a special player he is with a delightful strike on his return.
He only needed 10 minutes to get on the scoresheet, immediately extinguishing fears he’ll take time to get back up to speed after such a long time away.
Given how the last year has gone, it’s easy to forget he’s still only 18. If Fati can remain injury-free going forward, the sky’s the limit. Believe the hype.
Alejandro Balde
17 years old
Spain
Left-back
Chelsea, Manchester United and Liverpool have reportedly been monitoring Balde’s prospects for some time, and it’s not difficult to see why.
With Jordi Alba facing a spell in the treatment room due to a hamstring injury, it looked as though Ronald Koeman was set to place his faith in 17-year-old rising star Balde for a run in the first team.
Unfortunately, a back problem saw him withdrawn after just 42 minutes on his first La Liga start. It remains to be seen when he’ll be back available again, but the show of faith bodes well for his chances of properly breaking through this season.
Ronald Araujo
22 years old
Spain
Defender
At 22, Araujo is perhaps stretching the definition of “youngster” – having made his senior debut for Uruguayan club Rentistas back in 2016 – but he looks composed beyond his years.
With a dominant, all-action performance in what was otherwise a diabolically poor performance in a 1-1 draw at home to Granada, the centre-back proved he’s a natural leader and could be a mainstay of the backline as the Catalan club starts to consider a future without Gerard Pique.
Not only is he an astute defender, but his physical gifts also make him a real threat in the opposition box.
Pedri
18 years old
Spain
Midfielder
It was clear as day last season that Pedri is a special talent. For all Barcelona’s ridiculous mismanagement in recent years, signing the midfielder for just €5million from Las Palmas looks a masterstroke.
The 18-year-old underlined how good he is at Euro 2020, where he was arguably Spain’s best player. Having also represented his country at the Tokyo Olympics, Pedri has finally got a much-needed rest, albeit in part due to a (probably inevitable) muscle injury.
His return is imminent and we expect to see him continue to tear it up in the Spanish top-flight going forward.
Gavi
17 years old
Spain
Midfielder
Pablo Martin Paez Gavira (Gavi) caught the eye with a passable impression of near-namesake Xavi in pre-season, and circumstances have dictated he’s been thrown straight into the deep end.
He only turned 17 in August, but Gavi has already featured in four of Barcelona’s six league games so far, starting two. Expect him to clock up many more minutes before his 18th birthday next summer.
Nico Gonzalez
19 years old
Spain
Midfielder
Having come on as a substitute in three of Barcelona’s first five league games, Nico Gonzalez was handed his first start of the campaign in midfield alongside Gavi against Levante.
Koeman’s men preceded to produce their best performance of the season so far with a 3-0 win, while young Nico formed a promising-looking partnership with the considerably more experienced Sergio Busquets at the base of midfield.
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