Barcelona’s recent success in securing key first-team players on new contracts has brought much-needed stability to the senior squad.
However, behind the scenes, there is growing concern over the future of some of the club’s most promising academy players.
The famed La Masia academy has been the foundation of Barcelona’s identity for decades, yet recent years have seen a troubling trend of young stars leaving due to a lack of clear pathways to the first team.
The departure of Unai Hernandez in January was the latest blow, with the former Barcelona Atletic captain opting for a lucrative move to Al-Ittihad in Saudi Arabia.
His exit raised questions about the club’s ability to retain its young talents, and now, more could be on their way out.
While Barcelona have managed to extend the contracts of Alvaro ‘Trilli’ Perez and Jan Virgili, their problems are far from over.
Pau Prim, a 19-year-old midfielder once considered a natural successor to Sergio Busquets, is now on the verge of leaving.
Unlike Hernandez, who was sold for around €4-5m, Pau Prim could depart without bringing in a single cent.
The youngster has been frozen out at Barcelona Atletic due to his refusal to sign a contract extension, with game time drying up as a result.
With Marc Casado and Marc Bernal ahead of him in the pecking order, he has reportedly decided his future lies elsewhere.
According to Marca, Pau Prim is close to finalizing a move to Qatari side Al-Sadd.
His contract expires at the end of the season, and Barcelona will lose yet another La Masia product without financial compensation.
This pattern is becoming all too familiar, as seen with past stars like Gerard Pique, Cesc Fabregas, and Dani Olmo, who all left only to later return for hefty transfer fees.
The growing frustration in Barcelona is not just about losing talent but about the club’s failure to secure long-term commitments from their best prospects.
If this trend continues, La Masia’s reputation as a world-class talent factory could take a serious hit.
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