- How Can The Famous La Masia Academy help Barcelona Topple A Stacked Real Madrid Side In The Coming Years
The early 2000’s and 2010’s gave us some of the best versions of Barcelona and Real Madrid in history. Led by the two greatest footballers of all time, Real Madrid and Barcelona entertained the whole footballing world.
However, it is no secret that things have changed recently. Barcelona are still recovering from the gross mismanagement of the Bartomeu era, while Real Madrid have built a strong foundation that could help them dominate for the next 10 years.
Despite the recent gap in quality between Real Madrid and Barcelona, Correct utilization of talents from the famous La Masia academy can help the Catalans level up against their eternal rival.
How?
Because of the financial issues Barcelona have been dealing with in the last 4 years, they have had to buy/promote more young/teenage talents and La Masia graduates into the first team quicker.
The likes of Gavi, Araujo, Pedri, Lamine Yamal, Fermin Lopez, Pau Cubarsi, Hector Fort, Alejandro Balde, Ansu Fati, Marc Guiu and more have graced the pitch for the Spanish giants in recent years.
However, merely playing top academy players is not the what will help Barca catch up with the quality of Real Madrid. Ruthlessness, strategic decisions, and effective management of these talents will do the trick.
Effective Management
First is effective management of La Masia’s talents, so they develop in the right way. Barcelona have already failed in this aspect for at least 3 young players recently.
Pedri was overplayed and overstretched by club and country especially in 2021, and since September 2021, he has missed over 450 days through injury.
The same can be said for what happened to Ansu Fati back in 2020, and Pablo Gavi late last year.
Barcelona will be looking for the next Lamine Yamal, or Pau Cubarsi if they do not properly manage the responsibilities these teenagers carry for the club next season.
Copy Real Madrid
Secondly, they can take a leaf out of how Real Madrid’s book on how to manage academy talents that don’t fit into the first team. Clubs like Real Madrid, Manchester City and Chelsea have mastered the art of increasing the value and selling young talents that do not fit in at their club, for profit that will benefit the first team.
For example, Barcelona lost Marc Guiu to Chelsea this summer for just £5m. At a club like Real Madrid or Chelsea, a perfect loan deal would have been the next move for Marc Guiu.
A good loan deal can change a lot for clubs and players. A positive loan deal will improve the player’s confidence, experience and most importantly, value.
Just like what Real Madrid did with Rafa Marin. The Spanish defender went on loan to Alaves, and has now generated over €12m and possibly more in the future for Real Madrid as Napoli bought him on a permanent transfer. Barcelona have talents that can generate more.
Strategic loan moves for La Masia talents that do not fit in at Barca will only increase the value of the players, and indirectly, Barcelona’s potential profits that will be used to build a team that can match Real Madrid ‘s quality.
It will take some years for Barcelona to catch up to Real Madrid in terms of quality on the pitch, but if they are clear, ruthless and effective in managing the current pool of talent that La Masia is producing, it might be sooner than we all anticipate.
