Barcelona don always dey rely on La Masia to produce young talent wey go save dem from spending plenty money for transfer market. Di club don get players like Gavi, Alejandro Balde, Fermin Lopez, Pau Cubarsi, Lamine Yamal, and Marc Bernal all come through di academy and become important for di first team. Now, two new young boys don show demselves—Alvaro Cortes and Xavi Espart—and dem both don make am clear say dem wan stay for di first team.
Di two of dem feature for di pre-season friendly against Birmingham City, wey end 2-2, but Barcelona lose for penalties. Cortes replace Gerard Martin for di second half and im no put a foot wrong. Espart start di game, and im decisive runs from right-back catch everybody’s attention. Hansi Flick don give dem chance, and dem dey determined to take am.
Cortes, wey be 21-year-old centre-back, don talk say im goal na to establish himself for Flick’s first-team squad. Quoted by Mundo Deportivo, im say: “I think I’ve moved beyond the reserve team. All I want is to stay here with the first team and earn my place.” Im also talk say di training camp na perfect platform for La Masia players to convince Flick. “Yes, for me and for di other youngsters, this na great opportunity,” im add. “We dey here in large numbers, and we see am as chance to stay with di first team, earn di coach’s trust and secure our place.”
For di match against Birmingham, Cortes even step up to take di first penalty for Barça, and im rifle di ball into di top of di net. Im talk say im feel good and settle quickly. Im also reveal di defenders wey im dey admire: “I’ve always admired defenders like Pique and Puyol,” im say. “But more recently, Inigo Martinez had an exceptional final season here. I often watch videos of him, both with and without di ball, to learn from his performances and try to reach di same level.”
On di other hand, Xavi Espart, wey be 19-year-old versatile player, don also make im ambition clear. Speaking during Barcelona training camp for England, as quoted by Cadena Ser, im say: “My objective is to be here at Barcelona and it has always been my objective.” Im talk say pre-season na valuable opportunity for academy players. “You have to take advantage of di opportunities. Seeing other teammates our age for di first team na motivation,” im explain. Espart also talk about im relationship with Flick: “My relationship with him na very good, and I dey very grateful. I feel Flick’s trust, and I want to stay with di first team.”
Espart, wey naturally be defensive midfielder, don spend di last three years dey develop as right-back. But im insist say im no get preference as long as im dey play for Barcelona. “To play for Barcelona, I’d play in any position,” im say. Im also stress say di opportunity must be earned. “I want to show say I deserve to stay,” im talk, adding say im aim na to become “a different kind of full-back.”
Barcelona no don make move for new central defender dis summer, and di longer dem no do am, di bigger di door open for Cortes. Every pre-season game na chance for di 21-year-old to show Flick say im deserve fair chance. For Espart, im get chance to become a Kimmich-esque profile for Flick, whether for midfield or right-back. Di two young stars don make excellent impression for Flick’s first team, and e remain to see how dem go develop ahead of di upcoming La Liga campaign.
