Former Barcelona star Ivan Rakitic has spoken of his delight at seeing Lamine Yamal starring for the Catalan giants alongside a host of other academy graduates.
La Masia continues to deliver the goods with Yamal joined by players such as Marc Bernal, Pau Cubarsi, Alejandro Balde, and Eric Garcia in the starting XI at Barca.
Rakitic says he loves seeing young stars going all the way through the club and into the first team.
“It’s not just him, it’s the whole team. I think if we go through it line by
line, there’s a future for growth right now. Barça can field a starting eleven with homegrown players,” he told AS.
“They’re just kids, because I don’t know if they’re over 22 or 23. It’s amazing. That’s what happiness is. That’s what Barça is all about. It shows the importance of the academy, La Masia, and all the coaches who work behind the scenes, whose importance is often underestimated.
“With them, a kid who goes to Barcelona at nine, ten, or eleven years old has the plan that by 18 or 19 he can end up in the first team. That’s happening.”
Rakitic also spoke about Barcelona’s Champions League hopes after making it to the semi-finals last year.
“Based on last year’s experience, we shouldn’t think too far ahead. A year ago, we all saw Barça in the final and thought it would be a match between PSG and Barça… and it didn’t turn out that way,” he added.
“We have to work hard in each game and give it our all. Hopefully, we can learn from the small mistakes of last season. They’re certainly ready, but they have to show it.”
Barcelona take on Atletico in the first leg of their quarter-final tie on Wednesday at Camp Nou.
