Xavi Hernandez could field a side of stars now playing in England had Barcelona kept some of their best youngsters over the years, including one he could now sign from Brentford.
The Blaugrana are revered for developing potential world-class talents who have gone on to enjoy trophy-laden careers. Xavi, for one, joined the Masia ranks at 11 before enjoying 767 first-team appearances, four Champions League titles and eight La Ligas in Catalunya.
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He is now back at the Camp Nou as the manager and profiting from Barcelona’s esteemed production line. Jordi Alba, Gerard Pique, Gavi, Eric Garcia, Nico Gonzalez, Adama Traore, Oscar Mingueza, Riqui Puig, Ilias Akhomach and Ansu Fati joined Barcelona at a young age.
But several youngsters have also slipped through Barcelona’s clutches and gone on to have successful careers in England. It is, in fact, almost possible to field a complete starting line-up of players currently plying their trade in England, except for having an option in goal.
GK: Former Barcelona youngster Pepe Reina had lengthy Premier League career
Goalkeeper is the only position Barcelona would fail to fill with a former youngster now in England. But Blaugrana icon Victor Valdes did leave the Camp Nou for the Premier League with Manchester United and later Middlesbrough after a trophy-laden career in Catalunya.
Pepe Reina also started his career in Barcelona’s academy, but he only went on to enjoy 49 senior games. The Spaniard would leave the Camp Nou in 2002 to join Villarreal, before his transfer to Liverpool in 2005 to 2014. He now plays with Lazio, but is a free agent this June.
RB: Former Barcelona youngster Kiko Femenia now a Premier League regular
Kiko Femenia has established himself as a Premier League regular with Watford since 2017 after failing as a Barcelona youngster. The right-back joined La Masia from Hercules’ ranks in 2011 for €4m (£3.5m) and enjoyed 62 B-Team appearances for six goals and four assists.
Yet the former Spain U21 talent never made a senior outing before leaving the Camp Nou and joining Real Madrid. He would only spend a year with the Galacticos before stints with Alcorcon and Alaves up to 2017. The 31-year-old has never earned a senior cap with Spain.
CB: Marcus McGguane now in English third-tier after Barcelona spell
Barcelona raided Arsenal’s academy in 2018 to sign Marcus McGguane after 13 years with the Gunners. He would only spend two years with the Blaugrana, though, before he joined Nottingham Forest, having played 24 B-Team games in Spain and being loaned to Telstar.
The natural midfielder likewise failed to break into the first-team fold at the City Ground. He would join third-tier Oxford United in 2021 without playing a senior match for Forest. But the move to the U’s has seen McGguane’s career start to take off, now at 23-years-old.
CB: Oriol Romeu earning Pep Guardiola praise in England after Barcelona failure
Oriol Romeu joined Barcelona as a youth in 2004 after spells with Ulldecona and Espanyol. He remained at the Camp Nou through to 2011, working his way up the ranks until Chelsea paid £4.5m. The midfielder would earn Champions League and FA Cup medals at the Blues.
A medal from Barcelona’s 2010/11 La Liga title also features in his trophy haul after playing one of two senior games that term. He later left Chelsea for Southampton in 2015 in a £5m deal, where the 30-year-old’s efforts once saw Pep Guardiola praise Romeu as ‘incredible’.
LB: Former Barcelona youngster Marc Cucurella could be Tottenham bound
Marc Cucurella spent eight years as a Barcelona youngster but his form in England can now lead to a move to Tottenham Hotspur. The Blaugrana signed the full-back from Espanyol in 2012, before later selling him on to Getafe after playing one senior game at the Camp Nou.
He only spent one season with Getafe before Brighton triggered a £15.5m release clause in August 2021. Now, Tottenham are interested in Cucurella, as TuttoJuve claim Juventus and Spurs are evaluating bids with the Seagulls only wanting €20m (£17m) for the 23-year-old.
CM: Thiago dominating England with Liverpool after Barcelona spell as youngster
Thiago is now dominating England with Liverpool after starting his career as a youngster at Barcelona. The midfielder joined La Masia from Flamengo in 2005 before rising up through the age groups for 100 first-team appearances, a Champions League and four La Liga titles.
Barcelona would sell Thiago to Bayern Munich for £21.5m in 2013, where he won another Champions League and seven Bundesliga titles. Liverpool then came calling in 2020 with a £20m transfer, worth up to £25m, which has seen him become a key presence at Anfield.
His role in Jurgen Klopp’s plans has returned lavish praise from pundits for his ability to set the tone. Thiago left Darren Ambrose in awe against Manchester City in Liverpool’s FA Cup semi-final win last month, having ‘dominated’ their Premier League title rivals at Wembley.
CM: Former Barcelona youngster Mikel Arteta now manager at Arsenal
Mikel Arteta joined Barcelona as a youngster but the now-manager in England at Arsenal never enjoyed a senior Blaugrana game. Instead, his career would feature spells at Paris Saint-Germain, Rangers, Real Sociedad, Everton and the Emirates Stadium up to 2016.
The former midfielder enjoyed trophy success with the Gers and Gunners during his time in Glasgow and north London as a player. Arteta lifted the Premiership title in a Scottish treble in 2002/03. He later added two FA Cup winners’ medals with Arsenal in 2014 and 2015.
Arteta returned to Arsenal as their manager replacing Unai Emery in December 2019 after working as Guardiola’s assistant at Manchester City. Back at the Emirates, the Spaniard led the Gunners to another FA Cup in 2020 and is now eying Champions League qualification.
AM: Alen Halilovic vying to prove himself in England as ex-Barcelona youngster
Alan Halilovic is now vying to prove his skill in England with Reading as a former Barcelona youngster. The attacking midfielder joined the Blaugrana in 2014 from Dinamo Zagreb, yet left for Hamburg in 2016 after making just one senior appearance while at the Camp Nou.
His career in Germany again only lasted two years and featured a loan move to Las Palmas. Halilovic left Hamburg for AC Milan, who would loan the 25-year-old to Standard Liege and Heerenveen prior to his release in 2020. A year at Birmingham proceeded joining Reading.
RW: Sergi Canos now a star in England and could head back to Barcelona
Sergi Canos spent three years in Barcelona’s academy between leaving Nules in 2010 and joining Liverpool in 2013. The winger never broke into the senior Blaugrana fold, and also only enjoyed one appearance for nine minutes in the Reds’ first-team until his exit in 2016.
Norwich signed Canos from Liverpool for £2.5m, plus £2m in add-ons, and would later sell him on to Brentford. His performances with the Bees now has Canos back on Barcelona’s radar, with Sport reporting the Camp Nou hierarchy are exploring his potential transfer.
Intermediaries have informed Barcelona that Brentford would accept €10m (£8.5m) to sell Canos. The former Blaugrana youngster would be delighted to return if a move occurs, and Camp Nou chiefs are studying if his versatility to also play right-back fits at a football level.
ST: Louie Barry likely now set for senior Aston Villa chance after ‘wonderful’ loan
Louie Barry could briefly call himself a Barcelona youngster during the 2019/20 term after leaving West Brom. But the England U18 gem left Catalunya after six months to join Aston Villa for £880k. The forward only played three times at U19 level while with the Blaugrana.
Back in England, Barry scored on his senior Villans debut in an FA Cup defeat to Liverpool. It is his only first-team game for the club so far. But Steven Gerrard could now afford the former Barcelona youngster a chance next season after shining in England’s fourth-tier.
Aston Villa loaned Barry to Swindon Town in January, where the 18-year-old has been a consistent goal threat. Boss Ben Garner also hailed Barry for his ‘wonderful’ composure at the County Ground. Gerrard will likely now afford him a chance in Villa’s pre-season plans.
LW: Ian Poveda now hoping for success in England as former Barcelona youngster
Ian Poveda started his career in England but briefly had a chance in Spain as a youngster at Barcelona. The Blaugrana signed the winger from Arsenal in 2012, yet let him return to his home country in 2014 with Brentford. He later joined Manchester City then Leeds in 2020.
Chances at Elland Road proved rare before joining Blackburn Rovers on loan last year. He only played 20 games for the Whites and started three. A move to Ewood Park was key for his development, but an ankle injury that needed surgery kept Poveda out for five months.
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