La Masia is one of the hallmarks of Barça. When elections are called, all candidates for the presidency fill their mouths with the word quarry. Everything that happens around the Barcelona incubator always has more influence, more presence and more responsibility than in other clubs. La Masia is not just anything. It is not a fad or an empty concept. The work is not always done well there, nor does the drive belt always work from top to bottom or from bottom to top. There are worse and better times and more fruitful litters than others. Sometimes kids are used out of financial obligation and other times because they are simply so good that they break down the door.
But one way or another, La Masia ends up shouting “present”. Barça benefits from that fishing ground, it would be necessary more, but also the Spanish team, which thrives on that talent. A class that increasingly manifests itself earlier and with more elements.
With the debut on Friday night in London against Colombia of center back Pau Cubarsí, the three players to debut at a younger age with the red are Barça youth players. And four of the top five. And five of the seven. Awesome.
Because when Bojan Krkic made his debut with the national team in 2008 against Armenia, he had just turned 18. Very young, yes, but already of age even if only by a hair’s breadth.
But in recent times events have accelerated. In 2020 it was Ansu Fati’s turn, against Germany, that’s nothing. He had not yet turned 18. He was the revelation forward, the star appearance, the wonder boy, an example of precocity. Until around the corner the competitive character of Gavi emerged, even younger and who debuted with Spain in October 2021. He took the alternative against Italy in the semifinals of the Nations League. At that time he was the youngest in the history of the red. Less than three years later he has dropped to the third step of the podium. He already has Cubarsí and Lamine Yamal ahead of him. The winger surprised everyone with a meteoric progression and Luis de la Fuente gave him the opportunity last September against Georgia. Yamal did not disappoint him and even found the door. They all bear the La Masia seal. A truly international crib.
