FC Barcelona: Top 5 La Masia Prospects Who Could Be the Next Messi or Xavi
With Cruyff's arrival as manager to Camp Nou in 1988, he brought with him two essential ideals that have always been common in dutch football. The first of them is the attacking philosophy known as total football, and the other is the importance of the development of a club's youth teams and its players.
Both of them still prevail to this day and have positioned Barça as one of the top teams in Europe on a consistent basis.
However, it could be argued that only now are we starting to see the real results of Cruyff's vision. And while world class talents like Xavi, Puyol, Iniesta, Piqué and Messi have come out of Barça's youth ranks in the past years, today's generation of La Masía's graduates seems like the best one yet.
5. Marc Bartra
1 of 5
Basic Information:
Position: central defender (can play right back but doesn't excel at it)
Age: 20 years old
Nationality: Spanish
Height: 1.84
Current Level: FC Barcelona B (Liga Adelante), FC Barcelona (First Team)
Strengths:
A playmaking defender in the mould of Gerard Piqué, Bartra excels at passing the ball while still being stout as a marking man.
His height helps him win aerial balls with ease.
He is a natural leader of the defensive line.
Weaknesses:
Still very young and probably will need another year in the second team in order to progress.
Sometimes lacks focus and intensity when tackling opposing players.
4. Rafinha Alcântara
2 of 5
Basic Information:
Position: attacking midfielder, striker, second striker, midfielder
Age: 18 years old
Nationality: Spanish/Brazilian
Height: 1.78
Current Level: FC Barcelona B (Liga Adelante) and Barcelona Juvenil A
Strengths:
Mentally very strong, looks to be vertical every chance he has.
Despite being Brazilian, has a tough physical style on the ball and off of it.
Can play almost every position from the midfield onward.
Weaknesses:
Doesn't have the flair of his older brother Thiago.
Not as polished technically and in passing skill compared to other La Masía prospects.
3. Gerard Deulofeu
3 of 5Basic Information:
Position: winger
Age: 17 years old
Nationality: Spanish
Height: 1.76
Current Level: FC Barcelona B (Liga Adelante) and Barcelona Juvenil A
Strengths:
A very good dribbler on the ball, he has already been dubbed "The New Messi."
Has all the technical tools to be outstanding at the next level.
Is very fast and has good burst in acceleration.
Weaknesses:
Most likely won't be even close to what Messi is and will have added pressure to prove himself (see Bojan Krkic & Giovani dos Santos).
Not a prolific goalscorer, even at youth levels.
2. Thiago Alcântara
4 of 5
Basic Information:
Position: midfielder, defensive midfielder, attacking midfielder, winger
Age: 20 years old
Nationality: Spanish/Brazilian/Italian
Height: 1.70
Current Level: FC Barcelona (First Team)
Strengths:
Has the flair on the ball that every world class playmaker must have.
A prototypical playmaking Barça midfielder (like Xavi and Iniesta).
Dribbling skills and passing skills are superb.
Already considered a Barça first team member for next season.
Weaknesses:
Has shown mental red flags and has been kept under wraps so that he isn't exposed too soon.
Sometimes likes to play the killer through ball even when he has no space to play it.
1. Sergi Roberto
5 of 5
Basic Information:
Position: midfielder, attacking midfielder, winger
Age: 19 years old
Nationality: Spanish
Height: 1.81
Current Level: FC Barcelona B (Liga Adelante)
Strengths:
A box-to-box midfielder in the mould of Cesc Fábregas.
Not the prototypical Barça midfielder and is more of a goal-scorer and finisher than a playmaker.
Very hard-working, but with all the technical and passing abilities you expect from a La Masía prospect.
Weaknesses:
If Cesc joins Barça, he will have a very crowded squad in front of him and might be tempted to leave.
Will need to be ready to match his performance with the expectation he has created.
