10 Barca Youth Prospect To Watch

10 of the hottest youth prospects coming out of La Masia.

Jonathan Dos Santos (Midfield) - 26.04.90 (Mexico): 1.80 m, offensive midfielder that just oozes class and precision passing (Rarely puts in a poor pass)…Younger brother of former Barca prospect Giovanni but a player of different style/attributes…Terrific workrate (Very adept at winning back possession), great vision and a helluva right leg…

He’s been heralded as the next Deco and for good reason as he has already displayed his potential both in the ’09 preseason and in other first team matches as well as being called up for El Tri…Phenomenal composure and understanding with his best friend and teammate in midfield, Thiago…

Will have his shot at first team football in ‘10-’11, IMHO…If you don’t know his name already, you will.

Thiago Alcantara (Midfield) - 11.04.91 (Italy)

Best mates with JDS, son of Brasilian Mazinho…Kid is no doubt a first teamer in ‘10-’11…Very polished with terrific technical abilities…Great control, superb one on one and a very polished left leg, as well…

I dare say this kid is a phenom waiting to be unleashed…Perhaps more skilled technically than JDS…Has a younger brother, Rafa, also in the youth setup.

Gai Assulin (Winger) -09.04.91 (Israel)

1.76 m, Right footed attacking mid with pace…Likes to play on the left so he can cut into the middle…Fearless taking on defenders but does lose the ball quite a bit (Plays with his head down too much)…Not physical enough yet for first team football and is cut from the same mold as Bojan, IMHO…

A bit of a ‘hit & run’ type of player so far with not a lot of creativity yet...This is one prospect that might make it to the poaching Premiership as Zahavi is his agent and is apparently demanding first team football guarantee

Marc Muniesa (Defender) - 27.03.92 (Spain)

Can play CB or LB…A former ‘Ten Future Stars’ from UEFA…This is one of the youth prospects on defense that has been pretty hyped by the club, they’re quite high on the young player….His debut last season (Red carded, unjustly I believe) was the second youngest debut for Barcelona at 17…

Intelligent movement in defense, particularly for a player of his age…Left footed, strong in the air (6’4” already) and extremely calm in intercepting balls in defense…Lots of comparisons to Puyol…Mostly, he has the admiration & trust of Pep.

Andreu Fontas (CB) - 14.11.1989 (Spain)

1.86 m, already with a first team debut he’s a very confident and composed left footed defender…He’s older and less heralded than Muniesa but he has the look of a first team defender for Barca more than Marc, at the moment, for me…Very strong and not particularly technical on the ball but rarely is out of position…

Not a ‘natural’ footballer perhaps but a stout defender nevertheless…There’s a logjam of defender prospects at Barca and he might be one that is sold or loaned out.

Robert Rochina (Forward) - 23.03.91 (Spain)

Left footed striker with true ‘killer’ instincts in the box which makes him a bit different than the typical Barca youth player…At 1.83 m, he has the size to be very good in the air…Played with the first team in preseason and really made an impression that he is one to watch…

Dead ball specialist and has drawn comparisons to former Barca legend, Rivaldo.

Gerard Deulofeu (Winger) – 13.03.1994 (Spain)

1.72 m, this kid (Just to turn 16) has been hyped longer than many in the youth system of Barca drawing comparisons to Cristiano (Far too premature, obviously)…Very quick, good size, great touch/technique and excellent vision at an early age…

A lot of skills for this right footed kid (Plays on the right too) at this age which has had the Premiership clubs linked to him for a few years now…He continues to pledge his future to Barca despite interest from abroad...But he is a name to remember.

Marc Bartra (RB/CB) - 15.01.91 (Spain)

1.84 m who can play CB or RB and recently had his first team debut…Not known, particularly, for going forward but he looked extremely comfortable doing so…Big kid (Barca youth defenders all seem to be big players) who is fearless in defense and with surprisingly terrific pace at his size…

Has good technique but not a real ‘natural’ defender in terms of instincts or positioning although blessed with many physical tools that allow him to recover quickly…Has a good head on his shoulders and is considered a bright & humble person…Repeatedly linked to RM either by Barca or his agents who feel he may not have a future with Barca.

Gael Etock (Forward) - 05.07.93 (Cameroon)

A Samuel Eto’O mentored kid that has drawn favorable comparisons to the man who brought him to the youth ranks…Agile, big (currently 1.84 m) & quick in the box with an eye for goal…

A young player who has ascended through the different youth teams as fast any Barca product has before, now featuring for Juvenil A…Everyone is clammoring about this player’s potential as all he does is score, a pure No. 9.

Albert Dalmau (RB) - 16.03.1992 (Spain)

1.85 m, very fast player, typical Barca first touch, ball control, great power and has propensity to go forward a lot a la Dani…A very heralded youth prospect which might explain why there is some desire to move Bartra…

Beats defenders with ease and is described as a relentless fighter - never giving up...This is the kid they keep saying is the perfect cover for Dani, this summer we’ll see