Barcelona Transfer News: La Masia Starlets Should Be Untouchable During 2015 Ban
Barcelona's latest batch of La Masia starlets are reportedly hot property throughout some of Europe's top leagues, and the Catalans have to continue fending off attempts to sign away their best talents during the impending 2015 transfer ban.
Several reports surfaced in the past few days that Sergi Samper, Adama Traore and Munir El Haddadi are all being courted by some of Europe's finest teams, with manager Luis Enrique and the players in question turning down potential moves during the summer.
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Arsenal have been trying to land Samper for years, per Inside Spanish Football's Jamie Kemp, but the Barcelona-born holding midfielder remains committed to play for his hometown club.
The same goes for El Haddadi, who recently made his debut for Spain's national team. Chelsea's Cesc Fabregas is already openly courting the player, per the Daily Express' Alex Harris, while Arsenal are also rumoured to be monitoring the forward.
Fabregas showered him with praise, saying he already impressed him greatly in training when the veteran midfielder still plied his trade at the Camp Nou, according to Harris:
"Munir really is something special. From what I've seen of him in training, he is a really good player. It's all gone pretty fast for him, but people have only been saying good things about him. He doesn't seem to feel any pressure and feels comfortable around his Barcelona team-mates.
He can play both on the wing and in the centre. His awareness and movement is superb and is excellent at finding space.
"
As for Traore, reports from Spain (h/t Harris) suggest Manchester United already tried to land the youngster during the summer of 2014, with Tottenham and Stoke City also lurking.
El Haddadi is currently playing for Barcelona's senior side, enjoying a meteoric rise to football stardom since the start of the 2014-15 season. Traore and Samper are still playing for Barcelona B, but according to Sport (h/t Barcastuff), that will soon change:
"Barcelona B midfielder Sergi Samper (19) and winger Adama Traore (18) will be promoted to the first team next summer. [sport]
โ barcastuff (@barcastuff) September 9, 2014"
All three have world-class potential, emerging from Barcelona's famed La Masia academy and seemingly destined for great things. But following the busy summer of 2014, their path may be blocked for the time being.
The Catalans were forced to bring in an army of reinforcements, facing a potential transfer ban that will likely result in the team being unable to sign any new players during the 2015 season. Squad depth was needed, and every possible need was addressed with a number of veteran stars.
As a result, the senior squad appears to be set for the time being. El Haddadi is a member of that squad, but once Luis Suarez returns to action, he will likely see his playing time take a considerable hit.
Foreign clubs will try to take advantage of the youngsters' lack of playing time and try to convince them their futures would look brighter elsewhere. It is vital the Blaugrana resist any approaches at all cost.
Enrique has so far done an exemplary job of shielding his young stars, but once the transfer ban kicks in, the pressure will mount. The new Barcelona manager can't afford to take drastic measures even if the club goes through a difficult spell.
The trio of Samper, El Haddadi and Traore is the future of Barcelona. The players have been waiting for their chance to don the iconic kit and show their abilities on the grass of the Camp Nou for years, and they've never been closer to achieving that goal than they are now.
Promoting youth and training home-grown talent is the Catalans' identity. Former manager Pep Guardiola built his dynasty on the back of La Masia graduates, and with transfer fees ever rising, the clearest way forward is still through hard work and dedication, not bags of cash.
The calls will come. Loan offers with buyout clauses, swap deals for veteran stars to be completed once the ban is lifted, you name it. Without the ability to sign new players, foreign clubs will promise Enrique the world in exchange for one of his young stars.
He has to resist, and he has to make sure the youngsters realise their time will come if they can wait just a little longer. Moving young assets isn't the Barcelona way, and a one-year transfer ban shouldn't affect a formula that has been winning the club silverware for years.
