Lower than per week away from their first La Liga sport, Xavi Espart appears to have already earned his place in FC Barcelona’s first-team squad for the 2026-27 season.
Certainly, in keeping with Mundo Deportivo, the 19-year-old La Masia gem may turn into a completely fledged first-team participant, taking the place that Marc Casado is predicted to depart vacant.
A flexible substitute for Casado
Espart began the pleasant in opposition to FC Basel this previous weekend, which resulted in a 2-5 Barça victory, and performed 79 minutes.
He initially lined up as a pivot midfielder alongside Marc Bernal earlier than shifting into an inside function.
Within the triangular match in Udine, in the meantime, he performed at right-back, exhibiting a degree of maturity past his years in each place he occupied.
Given how he has progressed in recent weeks, Espart is now anticipated to take the squad place that Casado is about to depart vacant.
The homegrown midfielder’s No. 17 shirt has already turn into vacant on La Liga’s web site as he works towards finishing his departure, doubtlessly to Saudi Arabia, with Barcelona already having a readymade substitute.
Espart’s rise comes at a very vital second for Barça. The academy graduate has demonstrated that he can contribute in midfield in addition to at right-back, giving Hansi Flick one other versatile possibility inside the first-team squad.
Again in coaching
Barcelona will tackle Al Ahly within the Joan Gamper Trophy on Wednesday night on the Spotify Camp Nou. Come the weekend, they’ll start their La Liga marketing campaign away in opposition to Elche.
And, it won’t come as a shock to see Espart play an vital function in these matches.
The 19-year-old starlet returned to training today after being granted a relaxation by supervisor Flick on Monday. He labored usually with the remainder of the group as preparations continued for the Gamper Trophy match.
Will probably be fascinating to see if the La Masia sensation begins in opposition to Al Ahly, and in case he does, whether or not it’s as a midfielder or at right-back.
What seems clear is that Espart may have an even bigger function within the first-team dynamics within the new season.
