FC Barcelona and the forgotten philosophy of Youth Football

As the Azulgranas from Catalonia look forward to celebrating a league and a Cup double, Valverde’s pre-season promises of relying upon La Masia haven’t been fulfilled.

Occasional sightings at the Mini Estadi (Barcelona B and Barcelona Women’s home ground) to witness the matches of the junior side and calling up star players from the B team, including Carles Alena and Jose Arnaiz reignited some faith among loyal Cules after Ernesto Valverde ignored any thoughts of promoting youth talent in the first half of the season.

The world famous academy has been at the heart of Barcelona’s success in the past decade. The foundations of the academy were laid by the iconic Johan Cruyff, who aimed at creating technically strong footballers based on the model followed by Ajax in The Netherlands.

La Masia's outstanding success

Johan Cruyff laid the foundation of the Barcelona youth system

Within touching distance of their 25th Spanish League title, Barcelona travelled to Celta Vigo to play out a 2-2 draw in the league which throttled the Blaugrana within three points of the title. However, the Catalans unknowingly broke another record, one they weren’t supposed to.

Ernesto Valverde fielded a rotating lineup against Unzue’s side to make up for the fatigue among the squad and prepare for the final of the Spanish Cup, but surprisingly, the Barcelona lineup didn’t include a single player who was a former member of the Masia.

Decades ago, Barcelona started diving into uncharted territories when they based their club model around La Masia, which roughly translated to The Farmhouse. An unalienable piece in the Barcelona circle, the academy has produced various world-famous football stars including the likes of Leo Messi, Xavi, Andres Iniesta, Gerard Pique, Sergio Busquets, among others.

The academy created history when the iconic trio of Messi, Iniesta and Xavi, affectionately abbreviated as MIX represented all of Catalonia on the world’s stage in the 2010 FIFA Ballon d’Or Final Ceremony. The historic sextuple under Pep Guardiola, another La Masia graduate, is also another testimony of the academy’s importance in Catalonia.

Barcelona fielded a young squad against Vigo but failed to include any homegrown products

Present Situation

Andres Iniesta, the phenomenal Barcelona midfielder received, a grand applause from the crowd at the Wanda Metropolitano, but little did the emotional crowd know that they were seeing off another peg of the historic Barcelona tradition.

The Masia, always there to provide riches of talent for the Catalan club hasn’t seen any player prominent play promotion since Sergi Roberto. Denis Suarez, who replaced Iniesta on the night is another example of how Valverde has largely ignored young talent and used players, who, as Xavi quoted, don’t quite fit into the Barcelona play style.

Paulinho, the Brazilian, who was transferred from China in the Summer is a pure testimony of Valverde’s ignorance towards technical abilities of the players. But the manager isn’t the only one to be blamed. The man who transformed a squad known for their relentless attacking capabilities into a defensive juggernaut unknowingly aided Bartomeu’s exploits. Barcelona's highly controversial president, Josep Maria Bartomeu has been termed by the fans as the main reason behind the drift from the clubs motto, Mes Que Un Club.

"We say that we are More than a club, and I’m not trying to be an advertisement for the club, but that’s really the only way to put it. It’s something ... more here (in Barcelona)." - Barcelona goalkeeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen

What is the future of La Masia?

Barcelona's motto painted on the seats in the Nou Camp

Although the motto still represents the club in bold yellow colours on the Camp Nou seats, little does the squad on the field represent the words. A squad without La Masia players, heavy spendings in the transfer market and the defensive approach of the squad in several games.

Barcelona finds themselves in the middle of a mess. Bartomeu gained leverage and time as the squad prepares to celebrate a domestic double in the streets of Barcelona, but doubters would return as soon as the season is over and the analysis period stars. How will Barcelona escape the mess they created themselves?

"La Masia is very important for us. It is the key of our club." - Barcelona president Josep Bartomeu