RESOLVING THE LEDGER
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See the full story · 1 sourcesLa Masia starlet strengthens Barcelona first-team case with mature display vs Birmingham City
Barcelona played their first official pre-season friendly against Birmingham City, and Hansi Flick named a very youthful team from the outset.
The German manager played Xavi Espart at right-back ahead of Hector Fort, and the 19-year-old did not put a foot wrong during his time on the pitch.
According to Mundo Deportivo , he took another important step towards establishing himself in Hansi Flick’s plans with an assured performance at right-back during Barcelona’s 2-2 draw.
The 19-year-old started the match and completed 62 minutes before being replaced by Brian Farinas.
His selection from the opening whistle was already a strong show of trust from Flick, and Espart responded with a display full of composure and tactical intelligence.
Espart delivers at both ends
Making a good impression in pre-season. (Photo by Alex Caparros/Getty Images)
The youngster kept his game simple when Barcelona built from the back, avoiding unnecessary risks while still looking forward whenever space appeared.
Defensively, he adjusted well against a physically demanding opponent and rarely looked uncomfortable.
That maturity matters because young full-backs are often judged as much by their positioning and decision-making as by their attacking contributions.
Espart also offered something more unusual. Having developed as a midfielder, he repeatedly drifted inside and combined with Ebrima Tunkara.
Midfield instincts make him valuable
That role gave an insight into how Flick could use Espart in the upcoming season and allowed Barça to create an extra passing option centrally.
Initially, the Catalan club were struggling to defend against Birmingham’s high press, and Xavi drifting inside allowed the club to control the game better.
Big things await. (Photo by Alex Caparros/Getty Images)
It is an important quality in Flick’s system. Barcelona’s full-backs are not always asked to stay wide, and a defender capable of stepping into midfield can help the team build cleaner attacks.
A real chance to stay with Flick
Espart was very impressive for Spain at the Under-19 Euros, where he was named in the team of the tournament while playing in midfield.
The defender prepared carefully for both that competition and Barcelona’s pre-season, with the aim of earning a role that would allow him to continue developing at the club.
Interest from other teams exists, but Espart’s priority is reportedly to stay and consolidate himself at Barça. His case is strengthened by the fact that Flick trusts him greatly.
One pre-season performance does not decide anything, but if the German manager has to choose between Espart and Hector Fort at the moment, he is likely to lean towards the former.
Barcelona have spent years searching for versatile defenders with positional understanding. Espart is exactly that. It remains to be seen how Flick uses him in the upcoming season.
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