FC Barcelona’s pre-season has been formed by the absences of the internationals who performed on the World Cup and the ensuing inflow of younger academy gamers into the primary group.
Among the many gamers at the moment working beneath the coach, a number of have pleasantly stunned him.
Considered one of them, in keeping with MARCA, occurs to be Xavi Espart, whom the coach sees as a top-level participant.
The German coach had promoted the 19-year-old right-back to the primary group final season, and Espart featured in six matches: two within the Champions League and 4 in La Liga.
This summer season, nonetheless, he has confirmed each his glorious present type and his appreciable potential.
He began in opposition to Birmingham and was once more named within the beginning XI for each matches within the triangular match in opposition to Udinese and Nottingham Forest. The younger defender was amongst Barça’s standout performers in all three video games.
A flexible star
The Spain Beneath-19 worldwide joined Barcelona in the summertime of 2015 from UE Vilassar de Mar, as a first-year youth participant.
He has gained Flick over not solely together with his versatility, having settled at full-back throughout his Juvenil years after beforehand enjoying in midfield, but additionally together with his type of play and character.
Defensively, he stands out for his aggression and confidence in duels, composure, pace, coolness and positioning.
He additionally presents appreciable attacking qualities: his potential to hold the ball ahead, mix with wingers, discover areas and stretch the pitch.
A primary-team participant for the approaching season
Most of the academy gamers working with Flick this summer season face unsure futures. Nonetheless, that isn’t the case with Espart, who’s beneath contract till 2028, and can keep at Barcelona.
The 19-year-old right-back has made such an impression that the German head coach has determined to again him for the first-team squad within the coming season over Hector Fort.
The 20-year-old right-back spent the final season on mortgage at Elche and returned with the ambition of building himself within the Catalans’ senior group.
However, such has been Espart’s affect that Fort is now on his means out, with a move to Borussia Dortmund seeming likely.
