Evaluating the 16 Youth Players Luis Enrique Has Given Debuts to at Barcelona

Manager Luis Enrique is often criticised by Barcelona fans for not giving La Masia players a chance. The example most often cited is that of Alex Grimaldo, sold to Benfica despite being one of the club's most promising prospects.

Barcelona let him go for €1.5 million, and now reports have him as the subject of a bidding war between Manchester City and Manchester United, per TalkSport.

However, Luis Enrique has actually handed debuts to an astonishing 16 players who have come from the B-team squad in his two-and-a-third seasons at Barcelona.

Here we look at the men he used and how they are doing.

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1. Munir El Haddadi, 24/08/2014, FCB 3–0 Elche, debut at 18 years old

Munir started on the first day of the 2014-15 season, giving Barcelona fans great hope that their new coach would be drawing from the youth squad.

He scored on a dream start, becoming the club's third-youngest scorer, although it took him over a year to find the net again.

Munir found it hard to get game time behind the forward line of Lionel Messi, Neymar and Luis Suarez and was sent on loan to Valencia this season, where he is starting to find his feet in the top flight.

Verdict: Still a prospect

Daniel Tejedor/Associated Press

2. Sandro Ramirez, 31/08/2014, Villarreal 0–1 FCB, 19

Like Munir, Sandro also got off to a fantastic start, scoring on his debut against the Yellow Submarine in a tricky game that Barcelona looked like drawing.

However, also like Munir, he went over a year without netting his next goal for the club. The two were battling for the same spot in the squad, and Munir won the fight. Sandro was sold to Malaga this summer.

Verdict: May make it as a mid-table player

3. Sergi Samper, 17/09/2014, FCB 1–0 APOEL, 19

Samper has been shipped on loan to Granada but is still the brightest prospect at the club when it comes to youth players.

The midfielder impressed on his debut in the Champions League, helping his team control the game.

With Sergio Busquets in his way in the pivot position, it is unknown if Samper will make it in Catalonia, but that is certainly his ambition, as he tries to pick up experience out on loan.

Verdict: Could play for Barcelona regularly in the future

Sebastian Konopka/Associated Press

4. Edgar Ie, 03/12/2014, Huesca 0–4 FCB, 20

Portuguese centre-back Edgar Ie came on as a substitute in a Copa del Rey game but was sold to Villarreal in the summer of 2015, where he has yet to make a good impression.

Verdict: No great loss

5. Jordi Masip, 16/12/2014, FCB 8–1 Huesca, 25

A loyal servant, Masip has continued at Barcelona despite it being clear he is not needed for anything but the deepest, darkest of goalkeeping emergencies.

To further his career, he must leave, with new signing Jasper Cillessen ahead of him. Playing against quality forwards in training is good for his development, but it's not as good as playing regular games.

Verdict: No chance at Barcelona, should leave

6. Alen Halilovic, 15/01/2015, Elche 0–4 FCB, 18

Barcelona sold Halilovic to Hamburg for €5 million but retain a buy-back fee for double that figure. The Croatian was signed as the Catalans won a race with Real Madrid and Atletico for his services, and there were hopes he could be the next Andres Iniesta.

A spell on loan at Sporting Gijon showed his potential, although he is failing to find a place in the team on a regular basis in Germany and needs to find a new club if he is to reach his full potential.

Verdict: Has quality but must find the setting to show it

Darko Bandic/Associated Press

7. Gerard Gumbau, 15/01/2015, Elche 0–4 FCB, 20

Many Barcelona fans were up in arms about Gumbau being Lucho's preferred option over Samper when it came to calling on a midfielder from La Masia. However, he seems to have fallen out of favour, and it is unlikely he will ever appear for Barcelona's first team on any sort of consistent basis.

Verdict: Not going to make it

8. Wilfrid Kaptoum, 28/10/2015, Villanovense 0–0 FCB, 19

Kaptoum has a lot of talent and could one day be a squad player at Barcelona, with a view to improving beyond that. He is a versatile midfielder, clever and skilful, although needs to apply himself more when it comes to defending.

Read an in-depth profile on him here.

Verdict: Has potential to make the grade

9. Aitor Cantalapiedra, 28/10/2015, Villanovense 0–0 FCB, 19

Cantalapiedra is of the players cut loose as Barcelona B shook things up in January 2016, the forward then joined Villarreal. He was never considered likely to make waves at Barcelona.

Verdict: No chance at Barcelona.

10. Juan Camara, 9/12/2015, Bayer Leverkusen 1–1 FCB, 21

Winger Camara, who has sometimes been used as a left-back, helped set up Kaptoum's goal against Valencia in the Copa del Rey in February that prolonged Barcelona's unbeaten run. He has been loaned to Girona this season.

Verdict: Unlikely to make it at Barca.

Kenta Jonsson/Associated Press

11. Marlon Santos, 23/11/2016, Celtic 0-2 FCB, 21

Barcelona brought Santos in this summer from Fluminense on loan, although they are almost certain to sign him. He appeared against Celtic as a substitute and played very well, keeping calm despite a red-hot atmosphere in Glasgow on a freezing night. Passport debacle and registration woes aside, he's made a fine start.

Verdict: Hopes are high that he can become a regular in the squad

12. Carles Alena, 30/11/2016, Hercules 1-1 Barcelona, 18

Behind Samper, Alena is the next best midfield prospect. Some would even rank him ahead of the defensive midfielder.

Alena scored a brilliant, Rivaldo-esque goal to level for Barcelona against Hercules in the Copa del Rey, although he was admonished by Luis Enrique after the game for playing within his comfort zone.

Verdict: Extremely hot prospect, should make it at Barcelona

JOSE JORDAN/Getty Images

13. Alex Carbonell, 30/11/2016, Hercules 1-1 Barcelona, 19

There has been little buzz about midfielder Carbonell, and the likelihood is that he will end up playing elsewhere.

Verdict: Unlikely to make it at Barca.

14. Borja Lopez, 30/11/2016, Hercules 1-1 Barcelona, 22

Lopez was brought in during the Barca B reshuffle in January, and while he strengthens that side in the short-term, he will not play for the first team on a regular basis.

Verdict: Will not make it at Barca.

15. Marc Cardona, 30/11/2016, Hercules 1-1 Barcelona, 21

Striker Cardona made his debut against Hercules in the Copa del Rey before coming on for hat-trick hero Arda Turan in the Champions League clash against Borussia Monchengladbach the next week. He is perhaps being used because Luis Enrique is not happy with Paco Alcacer.

Verdict: Playing for Barcelona is hard and as a striker more so. Unlikely to make it.

16. Nili Perdomo, 30/11/2016, Hercules 1-1 Barcelona, 22

Perdomo has been used in the first-team squad at right-back during training sessions at times this season, down to Luis Enrique's freeze-out of Aleix Vidal.

Verdict: Unlikely to make it at Barca.

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PAUL FAITH/Getty Images

Nobody can say that Luis Enrique has not given youth players a chance, but what is notable is that none have proved good enough in his opinion to keep in the squad.

The closest anyone came to that was Munir, although when Marlon is properly registered to play in the top flight, he may also prove useful.

Rik Sharma is Bleacher Report's lead Barcelona correspondent. All information and quotes obtained firsthand unless specified. Follow him on Twitter here: @riksharma_.