Barcelona youngster determined to earn permanent first-team role under Hansi Flick – “I want to stay” | OneFootball

Barcelona have La Masia to thank for continuously giving them talent ready for the first team and saving them from spending millions in the transfer market.

The club have had the likes of Gavi, Alejandro Balde, Fermin Lopez, Pau Cubarsi, Lamine Yamal and Marc Bernal all come through the academy and become important in the first team.

The latest in the long list of talents to come through the academy and look ready for the first team is teenager Xavi Espart.

The Spaniard broke into Hansi Flick’s plans in the second half of last season, even making his debut in the Champions League round of 16 against Newcastle United.

He subsequently went on to become a regular feature in first-team training and spent the summer playing in midfield for Spain Under-19 at the Euros.

Flick also started the teenager against Birmingham City, and Xavi caught everyone’s attention with his decisive runs from right-back.

Flick trusts Espart

Espart has an important season ahead of him. (Photo by Alex Caparros/Getty Images)

Espart has reiterated that his only objective is to remain with Barcelona’s first team, revealing he feels trusted by Hansi Flick as he looks to turn a promising pre-season into a permanent breakthrough.

Speaking during Barcelona’s training camp in England, as quoted by Cadena Ser, the versatile youngster admitted the absence of several senior players has created an opportunity that he is determined to seize.

“My objective is to be here at Barcelona and it has always been my objective,” he said.

The 19-year-old acknowledged that pre-season presents a valuable opportunity for academy players to impress.

“You have to take advantage of the opportunities. Seeing other teammates our age in the first team is a motivation,” he explained.

Espart also spoke warmly about his relationship with Flick.

“My relationship with him is very good and I’m very grateful. I feel Flick’s trust and I want to stay with the first team,” he said.

Ready to play wherever needed

Although naturally a defensive midfielder, Espart has spent the last three years developing as a right-back, a position in which he has continued to impress during pre-season.

There has been talk that Flick could turn to him to play in the position he trained in during his formative years after Frenkie de Jong’s injury.

The youngster insisted he has no preference as long as it helps him remain at Barcelona.

“To play for Barcelona, I’d play in any position,” Espart explained.

Can Espart make his big breakthrough next season? (Photo by Eric Alonso/Getty Images)

He also stressed that the opportunity must be earned.

“I want to show that I deserve to stay,” he said, adding that his aim is to become “a different kind of full-back.”

Espart is enjoying a gradual rise to prominence

There are some youngsters who catch the eye almost immediately, and that is exactly how Espart’s career in the first team has been so far.

There is something about the calm he brings to the right-back position, and he has the chance to become a Kimmich-esque profile for Hansi Flick.

Flick could find a way to use him quite prominently this season, whether that is in midfield or at right-back.

Espart looks set to stay in the first team for the upcoming season and beyond, and it remains to be seen how he develops.