Barcelona have expectations on 18-year-old La Masia defensive starlet | OneFootball

In recent years, Barcelona have enjoyed unprecedented success when it comes to nurturing young academy and integrating them into the first team.

The likes of Gavi, Lamine Yamal, Marc Casado and Alejandro Balde have all seen rapid growth and are now regarded as key components in the Barcelona first-team.

Buoyed by success in nurturing their own academy talents, Barcelona are keeping constant tabs on La Masia for more up-and-coming talents.

Jofre Torrents: The next big thing at La Masia?

According to SPORT, the next big talent on the Barcelona conveyor belt could be Jofre Torrents.

Currently plying his trade for Barça U19, the club see the young left-back as a surefire first-team player in the wake of his unprecedented success at the youth level.

Torrents has indeed become one of La Masia’s most gifted young talents since joining the club from Reus in 2018.

Torrents could serve as a potential cover for Balde. (Photo by Fran Santiago/Getty Images)

Barcelona, in fact, see Torrents as an ideal cover for Balde at left-back even though they have Gerard Martin as an option at the moment.

The Catalans have indicated in the past that they might not necessarily look to make new signings in order to add more cover for Balde, despite being linked with left-backs such as Alvaro Carreras of Benfica.

Instead, Barcelona are banking on Torrents to continue his growth path and eventually become a first-team option for coach Hansi Flick.

Barça have already laid out a plan for Torrents to be integrated into the first team soon. The onus is now on the youngster to maintain his growth and form.

The coming summer, to that end, could prove to be critical, as Torrents will most likely be included in Barcelona’s pre-season camp.

There, the teenage prospect will have an excellent opportunity to prove his worth and eventually find himself in Flick’s first-team plans.