Former La Masia talent praises current Barcelona squad under Hansi Flick – ‘They are high-quality players’ | OneFootball

Former Barcelona defender Marc Muniesa may have left the Camp Nou in 2013, but the bond with his boyhood club still runs deep.

A product of the famed La Masia academy, Muniesa recently opened up about the highs and lows of his career, the struggles with injuries, and what it meant to leave Barça for the Premier League.

Muniesa admitted that his time at Barcelona was both a privilege and a challenge. Training daily alongside legends like Lionel Messi, Xavi Hernandez, and Andres Iniesta was nothing short of a masterclass for the young defender.

“I couldn’t believe I was passing the ball to players I had only watched on TV just weeks earlier,” he recalled. Those years left a lasting mark, shaping him both as a footballer and as a person.

Yet, the reality of breaking into the first team at a club like Barcelona was tough. Injuries slowed him down, and eventually, he made the bold move to Stoke City in England. Looking back, Muniesa says the transition was not easy.

“I had never thought about playing in England, especially for a team where the style was so different. But Mark Hughes wanted to change things at Stoke and gave me the chance.

“It took me half a year to adapt, to gain muscle, and to fit in. But those four years in the Premier League remain one of the best experiences of my career.”

Thoughts on today’s Barcelona and La Masia Talent

Marc Muniesa shared his opinion on the current Barcelona squad. (Photo by Jasper Juinen/Getty Images)

Muniesa also gave his opinion on the current Barcelona team under Hansi Flick and how La Masia continues to produce special players.

He pointed out youngsters like Lamine Yamal, Pau Cubarsi, and Fermin Lopez as examples of the academy’s ongoing impact.

“You have high-quality players in midfield such as Pedri, Frenkie, Dani Olmo, Fermín, and Gavi, who want to play the ball, and everything goes through them.

“Then, when the forwards get the ball, especially Lamine, it almost always creates opportunities. The pressure they apply is very good.

“Then there’s the high line, which we hadn’t seen before. There’s a risk involved, but last year it worked very well.

“The Cubarsi-Inigo pairing was spectacular. But with Inigo’s departure, we’ll see how Ronald does this year.

“It’s great to see so many players from the youth academy having such a big impact, like Lamine and Cubarsi, but there are also others who are already part of the first team dynamic.”

Praise for Cubarsi and Lamine

Muniesa praised Cubarsi and Lamine Yamal. (Photo by MANAURE QUINTERO/AFP via Getty Images)

On Cubarsi, he was particularly impressed: “Being a Barça centre-back at 17 or 18 is incredibly difficult, but he already plays with the maturity of someone far older. He reads the game; he’s strong, quick, and technically very good.

“Coaches value that hugely. People compare him to Puyol, which is a big word, but it shows the level he is already reaching.”

When asked about Lamine Yamal breaking the record as the youngest La Liga winner, Muniesa expressed pride rather than regret.

“Lamine is a fantastic player. At 18, he’s already firmly established in the first team. It’s a different situation because I had just made my debut and didn’t get much playing time.

“I was lucky that Guardiola gave me the opportunity to experience that with what is probably the best team in Barça’s history. For me, training with those players every day was like a master’s degree.”

Muniesa also touched on the trend of young players, like Pau Prim, moving to leagues such as Qatar or Saudi Arabia for big contracts.

While not common during his generation, he acknowledged that it can serve as a stepping stone and an opportunity few would refuse.

“Yes, it can be a stepping stone. We have also seen it with Gabri Veiga. In the end, these young guys are given very important contracts for 4 or 5 years, and it is difficult to say no,” he added.