Let’s be honest, when we talk about successful youth policies at football clubs, you can count on one hand those who know how to bring through players of a good enough standard to play for their first teams.
Manchester United have often been thought of as the best example, but not since the ‘Class of 92’ has there really been a steady enough stream of youth talent, home grown or brought in, to pepper the Old Trafford ranks.
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No, when we are talking about youth players making the step up, one club stands alone. Barcelona.
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Pique, Puyol, Xavi, Iniesta, Messi and Busquets are just five names of football royalty that have cost the club precisely nothing but wages. There isn’t another club in the world that could compete with that.
On that note, let’s take a look at the new crop of players who could be set to make their mark at the Camp Nou in the near future.
#1 Carlos Alena
The new great hope of the coaches at Barcelona’s academy, he has been at the club since he was eight, captaining every team he has represented, and has already made an appearance with the first team against Hercules in the Copa del Rey. A spectacular goal from the youngster really announced him to the wider public.
He is a strong and combative midfielder but one who has super ball control, and is just as comfortable playing either the attacking or deeper lying role.
For a player that is still only 18 years of age, he has a wonderful appreciation of the game already. It would be no surprise at all to see Alena regularly feature on the subs bench in 2017/18 with a view to an occasional start by the end of that campaign.
The world truly is his oyster at this point.
(Video: Mirop10)
#2 Wilfrid Kaptoum
Another youngster who has already tasted life in the first team and who has found the net whilst so doing.
Kaptoum’s candidacy for more regular employment in the senior side has the backing of Luis Enrique and others within the club. A studious midfielder, he is clearly a joy to work with and his evident delight at turning out for the Blaugrana shows in his play.
(Video: RPS23Productions)
His speed is deceptive and from a standing start particularly, he’ll leave defenders in his wake. But there is so much more to his game than pace and an eye for goal. If there wasn’t, he’d suffer the same fate as contemporaries Cristian Tello and Adama Traore.
Kaptoum is also good in the air and can be a goal threat when he ghosts in late.
#3 Lee Seung-Woo
A player with huge expectations on his shoulders. The youngster has broken Lionel Messi’s goalscoring records at Barcelona and that alone has been enough to elevate him to a god-like status amongst his contemporaries.
That it’s happened in non-competitive fixtures is of little relevance. Seung-Woo became one of the victims of the Catalan club’s ban on bringing over minors from other countries and as such, has gone three years with effectively playing just friendlies.
He continues to shine, however, and has been picked out on many occasions by ex-professionals as ‘one to watch.’
Woo’s skill-set is to die for and he can score any type of goal. He won’t get his chance just yet, but it shouldn’t be too long in coming. A front line that includes him and Neymar? A mouth-watering prospect indeed.
(Video: Youngcules)
#4 Marlon Santos
A young defender that has it all in his locker and impressed Barcelona enough in a second-half cameo against Celtic earlier in the season to have the club ready to do business with his parent club, Fluminense.
Currently on-loan at Barca B, the only outstanding issue is how the club manage his transfer fee. If he makes five appearances for the first team, there is a clause in his contract to make payable €5.5m immediately.
Javier Mascherano, Gerard Pique and Samuel Umtiti are in his way just now but they are far from rock solid at this point. The club simply can’t afford to lose out on the services of a player that distributes well, is good in the air, and is alert and willing to put in a shift in each and every game.
His ability to bring the ball out of defence is also second to none. Santos is, ultimately, the whole package.
(Video: FBtalentsHD)
#5 Nili
Francisco Jose Perdomo Borges, known as Nili, is another defender who is regularly asked by Luis Enrique to work with the first team in training.
Brought in from Las Palmas, his preferred position is right-back and, given Barcelona’s difficulties in that area, he could be one to look at over this coming pre-season, as he certainly offers the particular style in the role that Barca ask of their full-backs.
A player who likes to get forward at every opportunity, he loves a tackle and is adept at playing a midfield role if required. Although he remains ‘under the radar’ just now, it won’t be long before everyone knows what Nili is about.
(Video: Daniel Trujillo)
