Even in the middle of an injury crisis at the back, Barcelona always know they can count on La Masia to produce young talent who can help the first team at any time, and one player in particular is catching the eye of Hansi Flick.
Speaking at a press conference on Friday, the coach was full of praise for 18-year-old Xavi Espart, who has trained with the team this week after the injuries to Jules Kounde and Alejandro Balde and has a real chance to be in the squad for Saturday’s La Liga trip to Athletic
Bilbao and the Champions League knockout tie against Newcastle next Tuesday.
Flick has been impressed with Xavi’s on-ball qualities and positional versatility, and compared him to one of the greatest German players ever.
“When I see Xavi play, I really like his confidence with the ball; he reminds me of Lahm, who can play as a defensive midfielder or a right-back. I like watching him with and without the ball. [He and Álvaro Cortés] have already trained with us. I’m looking forward to seeing them play.”
Hansi Flick is not the type of person to compare current players to all-time legends so freely, so putting Espart’s name in the same category as the legendary Phillip Lahm is certainly something to notice. Espart’s name has been circled by people who watch La Masia closely for a while now, and he might have already made his first team breakthrough if not for a knee injury that kept him out for three months earlier this season.
The injuries at the back have pretty much forced Flick’s hand when it comes to looking at La Masia at this point in the season, but it might just open a door for opportunity for a very talented youngster.
