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BARCELONA, SPAIN - SEPTEMBER 13: Munir El Haddadi of FC Barcelona gestures during the La Liga match between FC Barcelona and Athletic Club at Camp Nou on September 13, 2014 in Barcelona, Spain. (Photo by Alex Caparros/Getty Images)
BARCELONA, SPAIN - SEPTEMBER 13: Munir El Haddadi of FC Barcelona gestures during the La Liga match between FC Barcelona and Athletic Club at Camp Nou on September 13, 2014 in Barcelona, Spain. (Photo by Alex Caparros/Getty Images)Alex Caparros/Getty Images

Barcelona Transfer News: Rise of Academy Ranks Shows Barca Will Survive 2015 Ban

Tom SunderlandSep 20, 2014

This summer's news that Barcelona would be banned from making transfers in 2015 will have struck a dreaded chord with many Camp Nou fans, but Luis Enrique is showing there's reason for hope at the club.

During his early days as Blaugrana boss, the tactician has looked to encourage Barca's academy prospects in making their first-team presence felt, and the results thus far are highly promising.

VILLARREAL, SPAIN - AUGUST 31:  FC Barcelona manager Luis Enrique looks on prior the La Liga match between Villarreal CF and FC Barcelona at El Madrigal stadium on August 31, 2014 in Villarreal, Spain.  (Photo by Manuel Queimadelos Alonso/Getty Images)

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Back in August, beIN Sports confirmed FIFA had rejected an appeal from the Spanish giants to see their transfer ban rescinded, the matter now being dealt with by the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS):

So far this season, Enrique has handed La Liga debuts to Munir El Haddadi, Rafinha and Sandro Ramirez, while Sergi Samper also made his first-team debut in the 1-0 Champions League group-stage win over APOEL Nicosia last week.

And not only are the club showing a desire to gift these youngsters an increased sense of importance under their new manager, but the players reciprocate that bond. Samper has drawn widespread interest in recent times, but after making his debut, was quoted by ESPN FC's Lee Roden in saying:

"

Yes, I had offers [from England], but it's something I didn't bother to listen to. What I've always wanted is to stay here. It's an incredible feeling and I'm really happy. The boss, Xavi, everyone told me the same thing. Be calm, do what I have done during preseason and with Barca B.

"

Unable to bring in any new additions for the next two transfer windows (as things stand), the crop under Enrique's command at present is expected to be the one he'll work with until 2016, pending any departures.

That being the case, it's pivotal the manager utilise any resources at his disposal to their absolute extreme, and considering La Masia's reputation as a factory producing some of Europe's brightest assets, it would be folly not to make use.

That priority is, of course, all the more important given current circumstances. However, the aforementioned quartet in particular are showing Barca may not simply survive the next 15 months or so, but ultimately come to benefit from the restrictions placed upon them.

It's ironic that the signing of underage players is the reason behind Barca's punishment and that the youth may come to be their answer in stemming the impending tide. ESPN FC's Dermot Corrigan quotes Xavi in voicing his opinions of the emerging starlets:

For a character of such Camp Nou esteem to give these players his stamp of approval is one thing, but the key is Enrique's willingness to place faith in their inexperienced minds, himself having become familiar with the club's inner workings as a player.

Munir would be argued by some as the most exciting of those faces to make recent surges into the senior side, the only downside being that no great defenders seem to stand among the batch.

NYON, SWITZERLAND - APRIL 14: Munir El Haddadi of FC Barcelona kisses the Lennart Johansson trophy in celebration after victoy during the UEFA Youth League Final match between Benfica Lisbon and FC Barcelona at Colovray Stadion on April 14, 2014 in Nyon,

That being said, the attacking and creative potential shown by the likes of Sandro and Samper, themselves still completely new to this standard of play, will be noted as an extreme positive.

Granted, none of those concerned may be winning Pichichi trophies or even making 30 appearances per season just yet, but their head-start in the first team bodes extremely well for a club unable to purchase more seasoned stars.

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