At the start of July, Xavi selected 12 players from the Barcelona youth ranks to train with the first-team squad, seven of those players were selected to tour with the senior side as they flew to the USA. But who are the La Masia 7?
We’re going to take a look at all seven prospects who are hoping to follow in the footsteps of some of the game’s best players.
Andrés Iniesta, Lionel Messi, Xavi, Busquets, Gerard Piqué, Cesc Fàbregas, Carles Puyol, Jordi Alba and Pep Guardiola, we could go on and on, all graduated from the La Masia academy.
Regarded as one of the best academies in football, it rivalled the Ajax academy as the preeminent European production line, along with the Benfica campus.
La Masia is an old converted Catalan farmhouse, and while it no longer houses the academy prospects, the barca academy will always be known as La Masia.
"“The player who has passed through La Masia has something different to the rest, it’s a plus that only comes from having competed in a Barcelona shirt from the time you were a child.” – Pep Guardiola"
Let’s get started with the bright stars of tomorrow, currently touring with the senior side.
Lamine Yamal
Position: Forward
Age: 16
Joined Barcelona: 2014
Senior caps: 1
When you make your first-team debut for the Barcelona senior side aged 15 years, 9 months, and 16 days old, you know you have some serious talent. With talent comes expectation.
That 7-minute debut against Real Betis last season whetted the appetite for more, and everyone is hoping to get a look at Yamal this pre-season, the prized asset of the La Masia academy.
Yamal first trained with the Barca senior side in September 2022 and his talent was instantly recognised by Barca manager Xavi who’s often worked to the principle that if you’re good enough, you’re old enough.
A right midfielder who can also play as an attacking midfielder or striker, Yamal has often been compared to Lionel Messi and Ansu Fati based on his dribbling ability, close control, and ability to use both feet in any situation.
Yamal is expected to spend the majority of the season with Rafael Márquez’s Barça Atlètic, but I wouldn’t be surprised to see him handed the odd appearance or two with the senior side, especially if injuries start to bite.
According to recent reports, Yamal has agreed to sign his first professional contract with Barcelona having turned 16 earlier this month. As one of the world’s most exciting prospects, Barca will be keen to get that contract registered as quickly as possible.
Mikayil Faye
Position: Defender
Age: 19
Joined Barcelona: 2023
Senior caps: 0
According to multiple reports, Faye has already been impressing teammates and coaches with his physicality and ability to win in the air.
Faye joined Barcelona from the Croatian side NK Kustošija and the Senegalese centre-back stands just under 6’2, nicknamed ‘the monster’ for his tenacious defending, Faye will spend this season with Barça Atlètic, learning the more technical aspects of playing for a possession-based team like Barcelona.
Barca signed Faye to a contract that will keep him with the Catalan club until 2027 with a €400 million release clause, which says everything you need to know about the belief the team has in him.
A left-footed centre-back, Faye has represented the Senegalese U17 side on 7 occasions and is considered a keystone of the national team for years to come. It’s unlikely that Faye will be given many opportunities this season in Xavi’s first team, but if he continues to impress you never know.
Marc Casadó
Position: Defensive midfielder
Age: 19
Joined Barcelona: 2016
Senior Caps: 0
Earlier this summer Barcelona president named Marc Casadó as a potential future replacement for Sergio Busquets, although it’s recently been revealed that Xavi has handpicked Pau Prim for that role.
Casadó was just 13 when he moved to Barcelona from fellow Catalonia resident Damm, and he’s worked his way up to a prominent member of the Barca Atlètic team under Rafael Márquez.
The combative and cultured defensive midfielder made 34 appearances in the third division of Spanish football last year and looked at home controlling the game from his deep-lying position.
He’s a tenacious tackler, and sometimes that results in some poor tackles and yellow cards (7 in 34 games last year), but he’s extremely hard-working and has developed technically over the last 12 months.
Lazio has historically shown interest in Casadó, but his inclusion in the touring squad shows how well-respected he is within the Barca management team.
There is a good chance that we see Casadó in the senior squad at some point this year, especially considering he was named on the bench for Barca’s crunch Europa League tie against Manchester United.
Ander Astralaga
Position: Goalkeeper
Age: 19
Joined Barcelona: 2018
Senior Caps: 0
Ander has only made a handful of appearances for Barca Atlètic conceding 5 goals in 4 games while keeping one clean sheet.
Having joined the Barcelona set-up at the age of 14, Ander has quickly progressed up the ranks. His lack of game time with the B side has more to do with the fact Rafael Márquez has the likes of Iñaki Peña and Arnau Tenas.
Is Ander being groomed to take over from the current Barcelona keeper Marc-André ter Stegen? Perhaps, but goalkeepers often play into their mid-to-late thirties, and ter Stegen is only 31.
He’s largely played with Barcelona’s Juvenil A team, but his performances convinced Xavi to register him for his Europa League squad last season.
Renowned as a strong aerial presence who commands the box and distributes the ball well with his feet, Astralaga has all the ability in the world to play on the biggest stage.
His career arc is going to be interesting to watch, especially if Barcelona bring back Arnau Tenas, which has been reported recently in the Spanish press. A loan spell away from the club may be the best thing for Ander’s development.
Fermín López
Position: Central Midfielder
Age: 20
Joined Barcelona: 2016
Senior Caps: 0
López headed out on loan last year to Linares Deportivo who finished 6th in the Primera Federación, the third tier of Spanish football.
He enjoyed an outstanding year, scoring 12 goals and assisting 4 in 37 appearances and a lot of people are looking forward to seeing him in the first-team through pre-season
Part of the excitement comes from comments made by Barca star Pedri recently, who said:
"“A player I like a lot is Fermín [López], I’ve never had the pleasure of playing with him and I see that he has a lot of energy and above all a lot of quality,”"
An incredibly talented dribbler, López is known his close control and skill on the ball. Although he started his journey as a centre midfielder, he showed last year that his best position was either as an attacking midfielder or left winger.
He scored 6 goals with 2 assists in 19 games as an attacking midfielder and 4 goals and 2 assists in 14 games as a left winger.
The hope is thatLópez will play a key part in Rafael Márquez’s Barca Atlètic squad this season, but if Barca really wants to test him, maybe a loan at a higher level may be in order.
Àlex Valle
Position: Left Back
Age: 19
Joined Barcelona: 2014
Senior Caps: 0
Valle spent time last season on loan at Segunda División side FC Andorra, and while he only made 7 appearances, he showed he was ready to take that step up, after featuring for Barca Atlètic in the third division.
Valle joined Barcelona as a youngster from Sant Gabriel and has been one of the more consistent performers through the youth ranks.
His performances have resulted in him being capped with the National side at U18 and U19 level, and although he was unused he was named amongst the substitutes in Barcelona’s UEFA Champions League match against FC Viktoria Plzeň.
Playing for Barca Atlètic this year would be a step down for Valle having appeared in the second division last season, and he’s not ready for the move up to the first team just yet.
I’m expecting Valle to either return to FC Andorra on loan or be sent elsewhere to get some first-team football. A loan move to the Segunda Division or Serie B would do his development the world of good.
With Balde working his way back from injury, he may get some first-team opportunities on the tour of the USA.
Aleix Garrido
Position: Midfielder
Age: 19
Joined Barcelona: 2012
Senior Caps: 1
Garrido is one of the most exciting prospects in football and there’s a reason Arsenal have been scouting him consistently for 12-18 months now.
He’s been with Barcelona for a long time and Xavi reportedly rates him extremely highly. He’s already made his La Liga debut having come on for Ansu Fati in a 4-0 win over Elche.
"“We would’ve called up Aleix earlier but he was dealing with an ankle injury,” he told Diario Sport. “Aleix is talented and can make the final pass, perhaps what we’ve been missing the most in Pedri’s absence.”"
Garrido has already represented Spain at the U18, U19 and U20 levels and the central midfielder is a box-to-box presence who is at his best when breaking the lines and entering the final third.
There’s a chance that he gets some opportunities with the first team this year, but If Barcelona do end up signing someone like Bernardo Silva, it may be best for him to head out on loan.
I’m sure if Barca decided to send him on loan, he’d have a number of suitors in every European top leave.