Image: Barcelona academy players spotted copying Real Madrid duo’s celebrations

Barcelona’s La Masia has produced many bonafide legends over the years.

The most iconic set of players to have graduated from the academy remains the crop to have featured under Pep Guardiola, but the academy has had standout graduates before and after the golden generation.

The most recent players to have come up the ranks of La Masia are the first-team stars Pau Cubarsi and Lamine Yamal, both of whom are indispensable to Xavi’s plans.

A common finding in players growing in La Masia, unsurprisingly, is that they idolise players who have defined an era at Barcelona. After all, the likes of Lionel Messi, Andres Iniesta and Xavi are gods of the Cruyyfian game the academy propagates.

Interesting choices of celebration

As revealed by El Chiringuito TV recently, celebrations by certain La Masia players in the recently concluded Iscar Cup clash against Real Betis left many viewers with eyebrows raised.

After all, many Barcelona players were seen advocating Real Madrid-style celebrations in the lower-rank matches. Cristiano Ronaldo’s trademark ‘Siu’ and Jude Bellingham’s iconic pose with arms outstretched were the two celebrations that raised the most curiosity.

Some La Masia players did the ‘Bellingham celebration’ and the Cristiano Ronaldo celebration during a youth match.

— @postunited pic.twitter.com/Fpje6VyA8l

— Barça Universal (@BarcaUniversal) March 30, 2024

While one cannot indeed place a restriction on the player a youngster idolises, Blaugrana stars openly advocating trademark Real Madrid celebrations is something less heard of, especially given the rivalry between the two sides.

Possible explanation

There is not much need to dig deep into the reason why Madrid’s influence is growing in the academy. After all, it can be described as a purely situational coincidence.

Jude Bellingham has taken La Liga by storm this season, and his iconic celebration has become one of La Liga’s poster photos as the months roll by. As one of La Liga’s top scorers, his celebration is the headline most seen in Spanish media.

Ronaldo’s ‘Siu’ meanwhile has taken over as football’s most widely replicated celebration, purely for the sense of dominance it exudes to those watching the game.

Barcelona has enjoyed the services of many greats of the game over the years, but few have had a trademark and iconic celebration that conveyed such dominance.

Lionel Messi’s signature move of pointing to the stars, Pedri’s reversed goggles, Robert Lewandowski’s clenched fists and El Pistolero’s trademark pistol celebration are some that come to mind, none of which have the aforementioned appeal.

In the end, all that matters is that the players in La Masia retain their passion and dedication to the club’s crest irrespective of the celebration they prefer.