Report explains Barcelona midfield pearl’s unheralded path to the first-team | OneFootball

FC Barcelona have long faced an issue at the club: numerous La Masia talents rising through the ranks are often compared to past legends — ‘the next Messi,’ ‘the next Busquets,’ ‘the next Xavi,’ ‘the next Iniesta,’ and so on.

Some players, like Lamine Yamal, take these comparisons in stride and focus on developing their own game rather than becoming overwhelmed by expectations. On the other hand, there have been cases like Sergi Samper, who was once destined for greatness but, unfortunately, couldn’t reach those heights at Barcelona.

Thus, in many ways, the media spotlight can be cruel to young talent. Most players emerging from La Masia can be categorized into two brackets. The first consists of young prodigies—players destined for greatness from a very young age who are fast-tracked into the first team. This group includes talents like Ansu Fati, Gavi, Pau Cubarsi, Lamine Yamal, Alejandro Balde, and Marc Bernal, to name a few.

Then, there is the other bracket—players who must work hard and spend considerable time in the academy to break into the first team. This includes players like Oscar Mingueza, Fermín López, and the latest addition, Marc Casadó. The 21-year-old has toiled through the youth ranks before being given the opportunity by Hansi Flick, and boy, has he taken it!

Casadó has benefited from developing away from the media spotlight. The talented young midfielder has learned by watching numerous videos of the great Sergio Busquets, who serves as his reference for the position he plays. As highlighted by Mundo Deportvo, he has achieved all this without the label of being ‘the next Xavi.’

Casadó has worked diligently through the youth ranks, with Rafa Márquez playing a significant role in his development by entrusting him with leadership responsibilities on the youth team.

The results of this guidance are evident on the pitch. Many players might have been discouraged by the number of times Xavi included him in the first-team squad without giving him a chance, but the 21-year-old kept working and patiently awaited his opportunity.

Right now, it’s hard to imagine a Hansi Flick team without Marc Casadó. He perfectly embodies the German’s relentless pressing philosophy, moving on the field as if he had an extra pair of lungs to assist him. His performances against Bayern Munich and Real Madrid were nothing short of sensational.

Casadó’s breakthrough season at Barcelona is remarkable. The 21-year-old has become a mainstay in the team, and the sky’s the limit for him. It remains to be seen how he will progress in the future.