Will Marc Bartra Be the Next Masia Graduate to Leave Barcelona?

Marc Bartra has been on the cusp of regular defensive deployment for Barcelona for what seems like years.

The youngster, now 24 and another product of the Masia production line, has seen a number of his colleagues leave in recent times, mostly for the same reason we rarely see Bartra—a lack of game time, which benefits neither player nor club.

Martin Montoya recently became the latest academy graduate to leave the club, albeit on an initial loan deal to Internazionale.

He follows a long line of players who have been proud products of the Barca academy but who just don't have enough about them to do the business at the very highest level on a regular basis.

Jasper Juinen/Getty Images

Jonathan and Giovani dos Santos, Bojan Krkic, Jeffren, Alberto Botia, Andreu Fontas, Marc Muniesa and Isaac Cuenca are just a few recent graduates who have made careers for themselves elsewhere.

Three of the list above are central defenders, and there have been others, which doesn't bode well for Bartra if he can't leave a lasting imprint this season.

The situation is clearly one that needs to be addressed, although the player has recently rejected offers to leave the club per Sport (via SW Lim of Goal):

"

The end of the season was hard, because at the start of the campaign I played more football and at the end I didn't play as much. 

I was thinking calmly about leaving a Barca team who had always treated me so well. The offers that arrived made me consider my future, but with a coach like Luis Enrique you know that eveything can change in a year, so I am going to give everything.

Every player wants to play in the big games and I know that it isn't easy at Barca. I have enjoyed myself a lot with the team and there is still much to be won.

"

It's an admirable stance from the youngster, although Napoli are reported to be willing to test the waters again.

According to Napolicalciolive.com (via Football Italia), the player's representative, Javier Diaz, noted: "We can’t rule anything out. We are working for Bartra’s future and will see what happens. Napoli? I can’t say anything other than Serie A is a very interesting League."

That's hardly a firm denial.

From a playing perspective, 68 appearances for the Blaugrana in five years, of which 18 were as a substitute, per WhoScored.com, is clearly not enough.

"

@GPBlaugrane10 @kevvwill @illegal_sal His situation hasn't changed in 3 years. That's not normal. I would consider leaving if I was him.

— IasonFCB (@iason1) June 12, 2015"

Factor in that many of his 50 starts came in games in which Bartra didn't complete the full 90 minutes and a clearer picture begins to build as to why the player could still be swayed into moving on.

It's a sad indictment of what La Masia has become.

"

Bartomeu (presidential candidate): "Marc Bartra is the best centre back of his generation, it's great news that he stays at Barça." [oc]

— barcastuff (@barcastuff) June 30, 2015"

A production line that included Lionel Messi, Andres Iniesta, Xavi Hernandez and Carles Puyol now seems to churn out stars for teams that are in opposition to Barca with alarming regularity.

The case of Bartra is a particularly strange one, however.

Whenever he has been asked to play, Bartra hasn't disappointed and been up to the task.

Quick across the ground and adept aerially, if there is a weakness to his game, it is purely his lack of experience. But how is he supposed to address that if each new manager prefers to go with their tried-and-tested options at the back?

With Thomas Vermaelen now back to full fitness, Luis Enrique could arguably place the Belgian and Frenchman Jeremy Mathieu ahead of Bartra in the pecking order ahead of the forthcoming campaign.

And with the lowering of Bartra's release clause from €25 million to a paltry €12 million because of his lack of game time, per Radio Marca (h/t ESPN FC), we have another situation that has echoes of Thiago Alcantara, another solid Masia alumnus.

It's a wholly undesirable situation, but five into two clearly doesn't go. What a shame it would be if another player who carries the Barca crest in their heart is the fall guy.