Pau Cubarsi, a 17-year-old defender, has secured a regular spot in FC Barcelona’s youthful squad. Under coach Hansi Flick, the team is excelling in La Liga and Champions League, boasting nine wins in ten matches. The emphasis on youth development is a strategy revitalized by recent financial troubles, with La Masia producing 23 new talents since 2020. Upcoming matches, particularly against FC Bayern, will test these young players’ capabilities on a significant stage.
Pau Cubarsi, a promising 17-year-old, has secured his spot in the FC Barcelona lineup. The squad’s average age is notably youthful, largely attributed to La Masia’s influence.
Under Hansi Flick, FC Barcelona has successfully returned to a competitive edge. With an impressive record of nine wins out of ten matches, they currently lead in La Liga. Recently, Barca recorded a significant 5-0 triumph against Young Boys Bern in the Champions League, bouncing back from an earlier defeat in Monaco (1-2).
The team’s next challenge lies ahead on Wednesday, as they host FC Bayern (23/10/2024, 21:00). The successes stem not just from stars like Robert Lewandowski, Lamine Yamal, and Pedri but also from the contributions of the young defender, Pau Cubarsi.
Reforms in the Champions League have increased encounters between top German and Spanish clubs. This week, there will be two more such matchups, with the historical edge favoring Bayern Munich.
Cubarsi’s Rapid Ascent
The young Spanish central defender has featured as a starter in all but one of Flick’s twelve competitive matches, establishing himself as a vital component of Barcelona’s defensive line. He made his first starting appearance on matchday 21 of pre-season in a 4-2 victory away at Betis Sevilla, just a day before his 17th birthday. His rise continued under Flick’s predecessor, Xavi, marked by his debut in the Champions League against SSC Napoli and his first international cap for Spain against Colombia in March.
La Masia: A Key Advantage
FC Barcelona’s strategy increasingly emphasizes trust in young talent. In their recent home victory against Sevilla FC, the starting eleven included six players aged 21 or younger: Cubarsi, Alejandro Balde, Pedri, Marc Casado, Lamine Yamal, and Ansu Fati. Additionally, Gavi, who returned after a significant injury, and substitutes Fermin and Pablo Torre also belong to this youth demographic.
Except for Pedri and Pablo Torre, all these players hail from La Masia, the club’s esteemed youth academy. For decades, La Masia has been a benchmark for youth development, maintaining a consistent focus on nurturing technically skilled and adaptable players. Those who advance from La Masia are instilled with the club’s playing philosophy early on, easing their transition to the professional level.
Flick acknowledges the importance of this youth structure, stating: ‘La Masia is a treasure that Barça has – and we have to use it. If we need a player, we know we can find him at the Masia.’
Reviving Old Principles
Despite this successful integration of youth talents, maintaining a seamless connection between the academy and the senior squad has not always been guaranteed. Following a golden era around 2010, marked by La Masia graduates like Lionel Messi, Andres Iniesta, and Xavi competing for the world footballer title, the club faced a downturn. Over the past decade, only Sergi Roberto emerged as a mainstay from the academy, while Barcelona invested exorbitantly in external signings, exceeding €900 million from 2017 to 2020. As a result, La Masia’s output fell below expectations.
The breaking point came when financial mismanagement led the club into over a billion euros in debt due to inflated player purchases, exorbitant salaries, and losses from the pandemic. This financial strain forced the departure of Messi and saw icons like Pique, Sergio Busquets, and Jordi Alba take pay cuts to remain with the club.
In response to these challenges, FC Barcelona has turned back to its own talent pool. Since 2020, 23 players from La Masia have debuted with the professional squad, including standout talents like Lamine Yamal, Gavi, and Cubarsi, who are poised to be instrumental for the club’s future.
Challenging Matchup Against Bayern
The upcoming match against FC Bayern presents an opportunity for the Barcelona youngsters to demonstrate their growth. If the Catalan side can secure a win against Bayern, it would mark their first victory over the German champions since the Champions League semi-final in 2015 (3-0), showcasing the impact of La Masia on the team.