Barcelona’s world-famous La Masia academy has encountered numerous issues in the years
since producing the unforgettable Tiki-Taka generation. In parts one and two of our La
Masia series, we explored the academy’s history and its recent problems. In this third
and final part, we look directly at the young players who have left the academy and the
club in search of new homes. These are the players that left Barcelona behind.
In 2014, Barcelona were sanctioned by FIFA for illegally signing players under the age
of 18. As a result, the club was forced to move on the players behind the breach. Three
in particular have gone on to have bright futures. Kubo, a talented 18-year-old midfielder
who has just joined Real Madrid this summer for €2 million, spent years of his footballing
education in Catalonia before having to return to Tokyo.
Andre Onana, Ajax’s excellent goalkeeper who is as well known for his shot stopping
ability as his distribution, has shown exactly what quality he possesses in both the Eredivisie
and the Champions League.
Ian Carlo Poveda, another midfield prospect, has spent his pre-season with Manchester City’s
first team at the age of 19.
Spain’s national youth set-up is concerned due to the lack of central defenders coming
through their ranks - but Eric Garcia is a shining light within a dearth of other options.
Regarded as one of the brighter prospects from Barça’s academy back in 2017, the
teenager has taken the captain’s armband at youth level and displays a lot of quality
on the ball as expected from a modern centre-back. After turning down a new deal at La Masia,
probably fearing his opportunities bottle-necking, the chance to work under Pep Guardiola was
too good to miss
Adria Bernabe is another. Having spent five years at La Masia, he turned down the offer
of a contract renewal. Most recently, Bernabe spent the summer’s pre-season with Manchester
City’s first-team squad. The 18 year-old midfield has followed Eric Garcia’s path
and, so far, it appears to have been the right decision, with Guardiola apparently keen to
integrate the playmaker into his long-term plans in England.
Another player currently with Spain’s under-19 side who saw fit to leave Catalonia in search
of further first-team opportunities is Sergio Gomez, who has found a new home at Borussia
Dortmund.
A talented number 10, creative and a danger when attacking the box, Gomez moved after
Dortmund activated his reported release clause of just €3 million and spent last season
on-loan at relegated Huesca.
More recently, Mateu Morey, who had suffered protracted injury issues, also moved to the
Westfalenstadion. The 19-year-old right back was developing at a rapid rate before picking
up a terrible knee injury which saw him miss the entire 2018/19 campaign. Another key player
for Spain at youth level, this time as part of the country’s victorious Under-17 Euros
squad in 2017, Morey offered plenty of drive and attacking threat from right back. He scored
three goals in that tournament and looked to be every bit the right mould of wing back
to fit into Barça’s positive style of play.
Jordi Mboula was snapped up by Monaco for €3m back in 2017. Electric on the ball and
an exciting, incisive winger, Mboula was the kind of player who had promised to get fans
off their seats with his flair and technical ability. Not wanting to pay Mboula the wages
required to renew a deal with the teenager, Barça instead sold their prospect on the
cheap to avoid losing him for free. Given how Mboula has failed to kickstart his career
in France, nor make an impact in the first team, this is one deal which as yet hasn’t
stung his ex-employers.
One of the most unusual cases is Dani Olmo who, now 21, left La Masia for Croatia five
years ago. Choosing to take the gamble and feature for a club that would give him a set
pathway to the first team, the teenager went on to make his first appearance for Dinamo
Zagreb in the summer of 2014. Had he remained in Catalonia, the same progress would have
been unrealistic.
Moving for a free transfer as a 16-year-old, Olmo has since established himself as a key
man for Dinamo and played an important role in Spain Under-21 European Championship victory
in Italy and San Marino this summer. A very tricky winger with a lot of end product, he’s
due a big move and his plan to leave Barça to catch eyes elsewhere has been astute. It
may just have inspired others to do the same.
Like Alex Grimaldo, who left in 2016. Barcelona were faced with a difficult situation with
Grimaldo. Three years ago, the youngster had six months left on his contract at the club
and indicated that he had no intention of renewing. The pathway to the first team hadn’t
materialised, despite his extensive experience with the club’s B team. For a little over
€2m, Benfica were able to steal him away. And the 23-year-old left back hasn’t looked
back since, developing into a consistent performer with an excellent left foot and one of Europe’s
most coveted full-backs.
Juventus moved to secure Pablo Moreno’s services when the midfielder was just 16.
After netting over 200 goals in La Masia’s system, as well as playing a key role at national
level, Moreno was reported to cost the Bianconeri in the region of 700,000 euros. The Spaniard
is already providing to be a force as part of Juve’s Under-19 side in the UEFA Youth
League and should feature in Spain’s plans in the upcoming Under-17 World Cup. A technically
gifted midfielder, capable of both creating and finishing moves, the teenager looks set
to turn some heads over the next few years.
Arguably one of the most marketable youngsters in La Masia’s ranks, 16-year-old Xavi Simons
- who has 2 million Instagram followers - left for Paris Saint-Germain this summer, where
the Dutch teenager will feature for their Under-19 side in the UEFA Youth League. Barça
were not willing to offer a bigger contract to a talent they were not entirely convinced
would be worth the big outlay in comparison to others on their books. Owing to the presence
of Ansu Fati in the system, as well as older prospects such as Riqui Puig stagnating when
exiting their teen years, taking a bigger contract and getting assurances of a more
prominent role in youth football seemed to be the decisive factors for Simons.