Which Barcelona youth products could be useful to Xavi’s first team?

At a time when Barcelona are between a rock and a hard place financially, and struggle to step out into the market and snap up the world’s top stars, the club needs to be able to fall back on La Masia, its famed youth academy.

After a period where there was a notable lack of in-house talents who managed to make a major first-team impact, homegrown starlets have begun to emerge once more in recent years, in the shape of players such as Gavi, Alejandro Balde and Ansu Fati. Now, Barça head coach Xavi Hernández could take the opportunity to blood a few more Camp Nou youth products.

These are a few contenders making a push for the senior squad:

Chadi Riad, 19, defender

A 19-year-old central defender, Riad has established himself as a fixture for Barça Atlètic this season, appearing in 90% of the ‘B’ team’s games. The Moroccan’s ability to bring the ball out from the back, and cover ground to close down spaces, are traits that Xavi is looking for in his players. What’s more, Riad is a left-footed centre-back - something the club has been searching for. It’s why they’ve been pursuing Athletic Club’s Iñigo Martínez. Riad already has one first-team appearance to his name, as a late substitute against Osasuna in November.

Estanis Pedrola, 19, winger

Pedrola could be added to Barcelona’s attacking rotation. With Barça Atlètic, he has registered excellent stats this term, managing a goal every game and a half. Rather than robbing him of agility, the 6ft 1in winger’s height and imposing physique give him the power and length of stride that allow him to burst past opposing defenders. The 19-year-old, who was handed his senior bow in January 2022, is the kind of player who could be very useful to Xavi as a late impact sub.

Aleix Garrido, 19, midfielder

The midfielder takes good care of the ball and links up with others to good effect - characteristics that Xavi himself has praised. Having completed his period of development in the club’s Under-19s, Garrido has accrued experience with Barça Atlètic this season, and was given his first-team debut in Barcelona’s LaLiga win over Elche this month. He’s a player that the Camp Nou boss could look to regularly in the future.

Arnau Tenas, 21, goalkeeper

With Barcelona’s current second-choice goalkeeper, Iñaki Peña, being linked with a move in search of regular game time, Tenas is a youngster that Xavi may well turn to. Already a regular in first-team matchday squads, Barça Atlètic’s number one is a player the Blaugrana head coach knows inside-out. That could be crucial to Tenas’ hopes of establishing himself in the senior squad. If Peña leaves, he would be an excellent option as understudy to Marc-André ter Stegen.

Lamine Yamal, 15, winger

Yamal is the youngest of the lot, but perhaps the highest-rated within the club, too. Aged just 15, Yamal is already being talked about as a key Barça player of the future, and his numbers at youth level certainly speak volumes for his abundant potential. Given his track record of being promoted through the La Masia ranks ahead of schedule - he currently plays for the Under-19s - it would be no surprise to see the winger make his first-team breakthrough at an early age, just as Ansu Fati did.