Birthday gift – Barcelona midfield prospect called up to first-team training by Flick | OneFootball

Since his arrival at FC Barcelona, Hansi Flick has made it a point to test out youngsters from La Masia in first-team training sessions constantly.

Young talents impressing with the youth teams or the reserve team get called up to work with the senior players regularly and can even earn a place in the matchday squad, depending on how they perform and absences in the squad.

This season alone, the likes of Dro, Jofre Torrents, and Toni Fernandez have made their first-team debuts, while Xavi Espart could be next in line.

Tommy Marques gets called up on birthday

Now, according to journalist Guillem Borras Perez, Flick called up Barcelona midfield prospect Tommy Marques to first-team training today.

The La Masia gem received the call-up on a special occasion as he is celebrating his birthday today, having turned 19 years old, and he got to do so with the senior team.

An exciting talent, Marques is a pivot midfielder who has become a permanent fixture in Juliano Belletti’s Barça Atletic setup this season, featuring in eight matches so far.

Given that Barcelona have been left short-handed in the midfield department, with injuries to Gavi and Pedri, the 19-year-old’s call-up to the training session today is understandable.

However, whether it results in further opportunities and a place in the squad for Sunday’s game against Elche remains to be seen.

Alvaro Cortes also in first-team training

Meanwhile, there was another new face in Barcelona’s training session today, in the form of Alvaro Cortes.

The 20-year-old defender and captain of the Barça Atletic team was also called up by Flick, given the absence of Andreas Christensen, who is recovering from a fresh injury setback.

Cortes has featured in five matches for Belletti’s team this season in the Segunda RFEF, having missed three games in between due to his involvement at the U20 World Cup with Spain.