8 Barcelona Academy Stars to Watch Out for in the Next 12 Months

Barcelona just can't stop churning out talent from their La Masia gold mine.

The first team is constantly peppered with stars that have served their apprenticeship at Barca's academy, and there are a number of youngsters on the cusp of a regular spot in the senior XI.

Fans of the Blaugrana need not worry about the retirements or sales of certain players because the club is in very good hands.

Let's take a look at eight academy stars who will make an impact in the next year.

Sergi Samper

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Sergi Samper is a future Barca captain.

Although we haven't really seen too much of Sergi Samper since he burst onto the scene with a spectacular debut against APOEL, next season has to be his breakout campaign.

You simply cannot allow a talent such as Samper's to rot in the reserves. Despite his age he is an old head on young shoulders and a player with maturity beyond his years in footballing terms.

Cool, calm and collected, Samper will probably be a future Barca captain.

Alejandro "Alex" Grimaldo

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Grimaldo is mature beyond his years.

Alejandro Grimaldo has had a taste of first-team action but, like Sergi Samper, has yet to experience it on a regular basis.

That should begin to change next season.

Grimaldo has become one of a crop of players that has become too good for Barca B and needs the progression to senior level to continue his development.

His mix of calmness in possession, positional excellence and accuracy in the pass mark him out as a high-quality exponent, and one that can't be allowed to leave for another club to take his career to the next level.

Edgar Ie

Edgar Ie joined Barca way back in 2008, but a succession of injuries stopped him from progressing through the ranks. Until now.

The young Portuguese defender has already had a taste of first-team life, having made his debut against Huesca in the early rounds of the Copa del Rey. 

It was an experience he was clearly happy with, according to FCBarcelona.com: "I’m really happy with my debut. I have the manager’s faith and now I just have to work ever harder … My team-mates told me to push more and not leave any gaps open."

A centre-back by trade, Ie is also adept in the right-back role. 

Alen Halilovic

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The "Croatian Messi" should form part of the first team squad later in the year.

Alen Halilovic is one of those football players that you watch and just know he has what it takes to make it at the highest level.

Some of the goals that he has scored for the B team over the course of the current season have been nothing short of sensational.

The goals have merely underscored his wonderful all-round game.

The "Croatian Messi" moniker he was handed upon arrival in Catalonia seemed a little unfair at the time, but given his performances since in Blaugrana, it's perfectly understandable.

Halilovic's style is natural and pure, not forced. Very easy on the eye, his is a special talent that only the very best exponents possess.

Adama Traore

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Could Adama Traore be the reason that the club aren't offering Dani Alves a new contract?

As soon as Adama Traore is unleashed full-time at the senior level he is going to terrorise most teams' defences.

He is powerfully built for a wide man but is deceptively quick, especially over the short distances.

The youngster skilfully mixes direct running and upper body strength with a skill set that is born in the truest traditions of Barcelona. 

Munir El Haddadi has been the main beneficiary of his work at the B-team level, with Traore working the channels incessantly to carve out chance after chance for his team-mates.

Elohor Godswill

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Elohor Godswill is a powerful presence in defence.

Elohor Godswill's star continues to rise.

A right-back predominantly, the player is equally comfortable as a central defender or as a holding midfielder, and he has the physical strength and personal desire to succeed in any of the three positions.

Andrew Randa of Supersport detailed an interview with the player during UEFA Youth League duty for the Catalans when he remarked:

"

It's been a good journey for me and I'm grateful for the opportunities here at Barcelona. I train with fantastic players and coaches who have been wonderful.

The experience is the best any young player can have anywhere in the world and for me I am working hard to make sure I make the first team soon.

"

Godswill has also been on the score sheet on a reasonably regular basis, evidencing an appreciation of the attacking side of the game, too.

A gem of a player.

Rodrigo Tarin

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Rodrigo Tarin has all of the capabilities needed to become a success in the first team.

One of the stars of Barcelona's U19 Juvenil A squad, Rodrigo Tarin has remained under the radar.

Not for long, though, especially given that his old manager, Jordi Vinyals, has taken the helm at Barca B.

A rapid promotion to the reserve side should be expected, and under Vinyals' expert tutelage we should see the smart defender in and around the first team in due course.

Tarin is strong in the air and adept at bringing the ball out from defence, and the comparisons to Gerard Pique are obvious.

Wilfrid Kaptoum

Still just 18 years of age, Wilfrid Kaptoum is carving out a reputation for himself at Barcelona.

Although he has reverted to more of a Sergio Busquets-type role, Kaptoum initially joined the club as an attacking midfielder and evidently could fulfill either role at the first-team level.

His distribution is immaculate, perhaps owing to a wonderful tactical appreciation of the game, and like so many of his contemporaries at the club, his first touch is exquisite.

He is another player who will benefit from time under Barca B coach Jordi Vinyals before an inevitable promotion to the senior setup.