Football always sparks debates, especially when it comes to the moment, expectations, results, and style, particularly in relation to Barça. One of Barça’s historical strengths is its work with young players, which has often helped nurture its first team. Think of that iconic photo of Leo Messi, Andrés Iniesta, and Xavi Hernández at the 2010 Ballon d’Or ceremony. Even in the current challenging times, both in sports and financially, promoting homegrown talent remains a reliable strategy, as seen with players like Lamine Yamal and Pau Cubarsí. As the club navigates through signings, the current season is showcasing the competitiveness of players who, whether seasoned or relatively new, are delivering impressive performances in their respective teams. They are performing so well that, one could argue, Barça would love to have them on their team now, especially with recent losses like Pedri and Frenkie de Jong.
Alejandro Grimaldo
The most productive offensive side in Europe
Alejandro Grimaldo left FC Barcelona’s reserve team nine years ago. In the winter transfer window of the 2015-16 season, he was sold to Benfica for 1.5 million euros. In 2023, he departed from Benfica, becoming the third foreign player in the club’s history with the most appearances. With his contract ending, Bayer Leverkusen seized the opportunity to sign him until 2027. At 28 years old, the winger is delivering such outstanding performances that he can be considered the most productive full-back in Europe today, boasting an impressive 11 goals and 11 assists in 34 games. He is a key factor in Bayer Leverkusen’s challenge to dethrone Bayern Munich in the Bundesliga after 12 years of Bavarian dominance.
Xavi Simmons
Impressed against Madrid
Xavi Simons, at just 20 years old, is already considered one of the super elite players. He proved his talent in the recent matches against Real Madrid in the Champions League round of 16 while leading the Leipzig midfield. Despite Leipzig being eliminated, they posed serious challenges for Carlo Ancelotti’s team. Simons was once one of the most promising youth players at La Masia, but due to disagreements with his agent, Mino Raiola, he left Barcelona. In 2019, at 16, he joined PSG, where he didn’t get much playing time. A successful season at PSV Eindhoven led to his return to PSG and then a loan to Leipzig. With 8 goals and 12 assists in 35 games, Simons showcased his strength, technical skills, and personality against Madrid. Today, his value as a Dutch international (11 games) is estimated at no less than 60 million euros.
Dani Olmo
An international who always gives remarkable results
Dani Olmo made a bold move as a Barça youth player in 2014 when he signed with Croatian club Dinamo Zagreb at just 16 years old. The decision paid off, leading him to Leipzig in 2020 for 20 million euros. He has since become an absolute international for Spain, with 32 appearances and 7 goals. Despite some injuries this season, he showcased his talent in the matches against Madrid. With 7 goals and 4 assists in 18 games, Olmo’s versatility and consistent performance make him one of the standout players in Europe.
Nico González
Gaining Prominence at Porto
Nico González, a former FC Barcelona youth player, made a move to Porto in the summer of 2023 for 8.5 million euros. The midfielder, who is the son of the legendary former Depor captain Fran González, didn’t quite find his place in the Barça first team. Instead, the club decided to sell him to Porto to make some money back after a less than satisfying loan spell at Valencia. Now, at 22 years old, Nico is finally getting a chance to shine at the historic Portuguese club. He scored his first goal for the ‘dragoes’ in a match against Portimonense (0-3) and also provided an assist in the 5-0 win over Benfica. This was his second assist of the season. Nico has a contract with Porto until 2028. In January, his coach Sergio Conceiçáo praised his dedication, saying, “It’s all credit to him for believing in himself, not giving up, and working hard every day even when he’s not in the starting lineup.” Conceição
Iván Balliu
Not many have been able to stop Vinicius like he has.
Experience counts for a lot, and Iván Balliu’s 32 years definitely show it. The former Barça youth player has taken a unique path in his career in the League, proving himself in unconventional ways. Surprisingly, the right back from Caldes de Malavella has even represented Albania internationally 11 times. Despite not meeting the high expectations set for many youth players, one of his standout achievements is being one of the few, along with Ronald Araujo, who has consistently contained Vinicius whenever they’ve faced off against the dynamic Real Madrid winger. Balliu has played 24 games this season with Rayo Vallecano, where he’s committed until 2025. His defensive reliability is his strongest attribute.
This content has been translated and adapted from the Spanish version of the digital newspaper
