Why the Time Has Come for Barcelona to Give Alejandro Grimaldo His Chance

Barcelona's Alejandro Grimaldo is still patiently, and painfully, waiting in the wings for his chance to fulfil a dream to play in the senior side.

Thus far, Barca B's youngest-ever player has had to be content with the odd meaningless cup game here and there, but the clamour for his inclusion at the top table is only going to get louder.

Jordi Alba still reigns supreme in the left-back slot that is Grimaldo's preferred role. Predominantly a defender, the 20-year-old can play on the left side of midfield with aplomb too.

Now a regular Barca B captain, like Sergi Samper before him, Grimaldo is fast outgrowing the reserve side. His skill set certainly deserves a better showcase than the third tier of Spanish football.

"

@grimaldo35 is too good for the Segunda B division... it's just obvious watching him for 5 minutes!

— DEP La Masia (@LordBarca) September 5, 2015"

If Luis Enrique hasn't managed to blood him into the first team on a regular basis before the end of the campaign, then, in all likelihood, Grimaldo will have to take his chances elsewhere.

He will have seen Martin Montoya and Marc Bartra before him. Hanging on season after season, both hoping that this would be the campaign where they would finally flourish. Only to see that opportunity denied them time and again.

JACK GUEZ/Getty Images

The beginning of this season would've been an ideal time to integrate Grimaldo. Especially when Adriano Correia's agent made it clear his client wanted a move to AS Roma.

Marca noted back in July:

"

Adriano Correia wants to leave Barcelona and could end up at Roma. The Barcelona full-back, whose contract is up in 2017, is understood to have reached a verbal agreement with the Italian outfit, according to Mundo Deportivo and Sky Italia. 

[...] His agent, Paulo Affonso, is currently in Barcelona trying to force the player's exit. 

"

It transpired that the deal did not happen, of course, but rather than offer the player to other teams, Luis Enrique offered the player a new contract.

That will surely have come as a bitter blow to a player trying to make his way up the ladder as studiously as possible.

Jeremy Mathieu also provides cover in the position but is a totally different beast to the youngster. The centre-back-cum-left-back relies on his physicality and speed over short distances to get out of trouble, but he's no ball player in the Barca style.

Grimaldo has everything that the club desires in that respect. Calm on the ball and with a keen eye for the simple pass, he is a natural. He may not have the pace of Alba, the physique of Mathieu or the ambidexterity of Correia, but he has tactical nous beyond his years. He has always been an older head on young shoulders.

As one of a crop of La Masia graduates that have been banging on the first-team door for what seems like an age, it does really seem a case of now or never for Grimaldo and his academy colleagues.

If one of the best in recent years is allowed to follow the well worn path out of the exit door, there is sure to be uproar from club members. 

"

Barcelona B left wing player Alejandro Grimaldo (20) can leave for free in 2016. Deal with Champions League team is close. [rac1]

— barcastuff (@barcastuff) October 6, 2015"

After all, La Masia—and what it represents—remains one of the cornerstones of what Barcelona as a club and an organisation is all about.

But for far too long now, the need for immediate success has overtaken the need to continue to develop young talent. To build a platform to ensure sustained success in the future, and which doesn't cost an arm and a leg. 

It will be a criminal waste of Grimaldo's talent if Barcelona keep finding themselves in a situation where they are unable to offer him consistent employment at the highest level of their club.

He has served his apprenticeship and ticked all of the right boxes in so doing. It's time.