Barcelona to Lose Youth Products in Exodus
Barcelona’s infamous La Masia training ground has produced a cavalcade of talent over the years, including the backbone of their current team, considered not only the best in the Catalan club’s history, but also arguably the best team that ever took to a football pitch.
However, La Masia has not only provided a rich vein of players for the Barcelona first-team, Masia graduates have also moved all over Europe in search of first-team football, often achieving great success. Sometimes they have ultimately returned to Barca. For example, in the current Barcelona squad, Gerard Pique initially made his name as a barely playing reserve at Old Trafford (surely a player that United regret letting go), Cesc Fabregas was Arsenal’s star player for many seasons, and Jordi Alba broke into first-team football at Valencia.
And news has broken that the current La Masia academy’s products are being recruited rapidly once again by Premier League clubs. Chelsea have recently agreed a deal to sign the 16-year-old Barcelona starlet Josimar Quintero at the end of the season, while defender Julio Pleguezuelo will be joining Arsenal. The trio of potential exits is completed by Sergio Canos, who is attracting considerable Premier League interest.
Such is the pull of the Catalan club, though, don’t be surprised to see them back at Barca one day.
