Having just endured a challenging 3-3 draw with Inter Milan in the Champions League semi-final, Hansi Flick led Barcelona to quickly pivot ahead of their La Liga clash with Real Valladolid this Saturday.
With injuries and fatigue starting to build up, head coach Hansi Flick decided to draw not only on aspects of the successful La Masia program that reinforced squad depth in previous seasons, but also to use La Masia’s promise and talent in today’s recovery session.
According to journalist Guillem Boras Perez, three youth players were asked to train with the first team this morning, reflecting Flick’s bold decision to call youth players from Barcelona’s successful academy amid a busy fixture congestion, while injecting new blood, and the possibility of squad rotations in the approaching fixture against Valladolid.
They will be determined to perform well, in front of the managers’ eyes and with the opportunity to impress, as well as Convey Imagineada, carried out for the academy.
The three players called up are 19-year-old winger Dani Rodriguez from Barça Atletic, Noah Darvich, an attacking midfielder, aged 17 with technical abilities as a youth player, and Jofre Torrents at left-back, also highly regarded as an academy player at 18 years old, as part of Barcelona’s under-19 program.
Darvich, who trained with the first team earlier in the week, has captivated his head coach, Hansi Flick, with his creative genius and level-headed nature.
Ricardo Rodriguez is generally seen as one of La Masia’s brightest prospects and could very well gain an indefinite promotion to the first team next season.
His pace and directness are perfect for an impact sub this weekend.
Torrents might not have as much experience as Rodriguez, but he provides left-back depth, which is crucial, given Alejandro Balde’s injury and Gerard Martín’s inconsistent form.
With seven appearances for Barça Atletic so far this season, Torrents’ selection is indicative of Flick’s willingness to suffocate squad fatigue by ruling out all avenues.
As Barcelona looks to keep its momentum alive in La Liga, these two youngsters could help their club win against Valladolid, demonstrating the club’s commitment to youth and experience during such a crucial stretch of the season.
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