La Masía, an inexhaustible factory of pivots for Barça

Angel Pedraza He was the first youth player from La Masía to debut with the Barcelona first team. It was September 16, 1980 and the Blaugrana were playing a UEFA Cup match against Sliema Wanderers. Since then, they have been 99 footballers raised in the Masía who have played at the Camp Nou, with the most iconic photograph at the 2010 Ballon d’Or gala with Messi, Xavi and Iniesta taking the podium. However, it was the arrival of Johan Cruyffmain actor in the creation of total football and A Clockwork Orange, which meant an absolute commitment to La Masía at a time when only two foreigners could play. Cruyff opted for positional play and ball control, with the figure of midfielder (which he called ‘four’) to give balance to the entire structure, and ordered that grassroots football play in the same way to facilitate the integration of any footballer who had to go up to the first team. He delegated control of the game to Luis Milla and from there La Masía began to produce midfielders and pivots in abundance. Not everyone arrived, but those who did marked an era. Guillermo Amor, Pep Guardiola, Luis Cembranos, Celades or De la Peña They were some examples that were later succeeded by Gerard López, Xavi Hernández, Sergio Busquets, Oriol Romeu and now Marc Casadó.

Precisely Gerard Lopezwho after debuting in the Barça reserve team went to Valencia (1997-2000), where he triumphed before returning to Barcelona (2000-05), explains the secret of this prolific media creation. «This great production of midfielders is linked to the club mentality of playing one type of footballplaying positional football where the demarcation of the pivot has always been basic and capital. In grassroots football, it has always been played with that pattern that allowed the creation of players who controlled the game and possessed the ball. If you want to play one thing, in the end you create players who are used to doing it from the base. It is closely linked to the playing style mentality that Barça has from the youth team,” explains Gerard, who is currently an analyst in different media outlets and the Catalonia coach.

The former soccer player does not believe, therefore, that Barcelona’s youth system is a better team than that of other First Division clubs: “They all try to recruit young players to nurture the first team of soccer players who can adapt and know the club. It is the main objective of every team. Barça has been one of the pioneers in promoting it and above all in promoting it and that in the end it pays off with so many players who have risen to the first team.

Also Jordi Roura He was a Barcelona midfielder trained at La Masía and later held positions in the club’s youth football team. «The training of so many players in this midfield position has a lot to do with the style of play. Just as Barça plays, with the famous DNA. To have this control of the game through the ball, the figure of the midfielder is very important. “He is fundamental, the one who gives continuity and balance to the entire team,” explains the former right-hand man. Tito Vilanova in the 2012-13 season. He was one of the architects of the legendary lineup with eleven homegrown players during the match against Levante that season.

The club’s philosophy is summarized by Hansi Flick analyzing the game of Marc Casadó, the main piece in its spine. «It’s incredible. If you see him play now, if you know where he comes from… and the level now, everything he has improved. He is incredibly good in defense, also with the ball at his feet. This is the Masía. “I’m very happy,” explained the German after his performance against Bayern.