SETTABLOID

It has become a regular occurrence for Barcelona manager Xavi Hernandez to regularly call up fresh faces from the club’s academy ranks to first-team training in the ongoing campaign.

Over the course of the season, the likes of Pau Prim, Mika Faye, Mamadou Mbacke, and Unai Hernandez, among several others have all trained under Xavi while continuing to play for the youth and reserve teams.

It has become a regular occurrence for Barcelona manager Xavi Hernandez to regularly call up fresh faces from the club’s academy ranks to first-team training in the ongoing campaign.

Over the course of the season, the likes of Pau Prim, Mika Faye, Mamadou Mbacke, and Unai Hernandez, among several others have all trained under Xavi while continuing to play for the youth and reserve teams.

On Wednesday, Xavi handed a first call-up to another young prospect in the form of Alexis Olmedo to the Barcelona senior training session, reports SPORT.

Indeed, the 18-year-old defensive prospect was called up to train with the first-team squad for the first time ever by the Barcelona manager.

Olmedo participated in today’s session along with other youngsters like the aforementioned Prim, Mbacke, and Marc Casado.

Born in 2006, Olmedo has been at the Barcelona youth academy since a young age, having joined from Gimnastic Manresa.

The 18-year-old is part of the Barcelona Juvenil A setup, but has been working with the Barça Atletic squad under Rafa Marquez.

In fact, the teenage centre-back has featured in the last two matches for the reserve team after having spent close to four months on the sidelines due to an injury.

A centre-back by trade, Olmedo can also play at right-back as he did for Juvenil A in the UEFA Youth League this season, even scoring a goal.

Olmedo stands out for his anticipation in defensive actions, and his good ball control. In addition, he is a powerful player in the air and can be a threat from set-pieces.

Barcelona and PSG will face off on the field twice over the next month in the quarterfinals of the UEFA Champions League.

Only one of the two European giants can make it to the next stage, and the Catalans’ recent resurgence in form only makes the tie closer.

The two clubs, however, are also involved in several tussles off the field. According to reports from SPORT, the Parisiens have their eyes on up to five Catalan players as targets for the summer.

Paris Saint-Germain have shown a particular interest in signing the Blaugranas’ young defender Hector Fort who has made quite the impression with the first team.

As a player capable of playing on both extremes of defence and even as a centre-back, Barcelona value him for his versatility and age.

In a meeting two weeks ago, they made it clear to PSG that they are not willing to let go of the youngster.

Apart from the La Masia defender, PSG also have their eyes on the two crown jewels of the academy, Pau Cubarsi and Lamine Yamal. The duo, however, will not be sold under any circumstances and have been granted the ‘untouchable’ status.                                                                                                                                                                                 In the same meeting where Barcelona and PSG discussed the name of Hector Fort, the topic of Jules Kounde’s future also popped up.

In this case, however, Barça opened the door to negotiate the Frenchman’s future with PSG should an appropriate offer arrive.

The Azulgranas signed the centre-back for €50 million plus another €12.5 million in variables just in 2022, and the amortisation of his signing is still under 50%.

Selling him at this stage will improve the team’s financial fair play and help Barcelona edge closer to the 1:1 rule.

The final player whom Luis Enrique’s side are eyeing is Barcelona’s Dutch midfield sensation Frenkie de Jong.

While he is currently a vital part of the team, the administration does not rule out a sale should a tempting offer arrive.

It is no secret that Xavi’s future at Barcelona is uncertain, despite the manager’s earlier declaration that he would not stay past this season.

With the club struggling to find a replacement, a report from SPORT suggests they might not have to look far as Rafa Marquez is reportedly gaining traction within the Barcelona board, potentially positioning him as a candidate should Xavi depart.

The outlet mentions that Barcelona highly value his contributions to the reserve team, as well as his expertise with the youth squad.

Above all, his mentorship of talented youngsters has not gone unnoticed as most of them are now making waves in the first team.

If we were in February right now, Barcelona thinking of Marquez would have appeared unlikely, but if Xavi does not stay, the youth team coach is being considered as a viable option.

The aforementioned outlet confirms that the club is thrilled with the exceptional work being done by the Mexcian.

They appreciate his deep understanding of the club’s ethos and his knack for nurturing young talent, many of  whom have gone on to shine in the first team.

Interestingly enough, Marquez enjoys the backing of Joan Laporta as he was handpicked by the top brass of the Blaugrana entity to helm Barça Atletic last season.

This season, his team has gone undefeated for 11 games straight, positioning them at the second spot of Group 1 in the First RFEF, making promotion seem within reach.

Meanwhile, despite some controversy surrounding his association with a betting company, which is currently under investigation by the club’s Integrity department, Marquez’s stature within Laporta’s inner circle remains solid.

His leadership and adeptness at navigating through unexpected player absences due to international duty or injuries have earned him respect.

Quietly but steadily, the Mexican continues to make strides from the sidelines, positioning at the top as Barcelona continue to monitor his development.

A headline member of the attacking ranks at La Liga giants Barcelona reiterated his commitment to the cause with a view to the final months of the season on Tuesday.

Front man Ferran, of course, is fresh off marking his return to the pitch this past weekend.

After spending a full two months on the sidelines owing to a hamstring injury, the Spanish international was introduced off the bench, en route to Barcelona’s hard-fought victory over Las Palmas.

Despite his recent spell out of action, Ferran remains the Blaugrana’s 2nd top scorer across the season to date, trailing only Robert Lewandowski when it comes to finding the net.

And, amid strong competition for places in the final third in Xavi’s squad, the former Manchester City man, evidently, is eager to get back firing on all cylinders as quickly as possible.

In turn, as revealed by David Ibáñez of El Desmarque, Ferran was spotted in attendance at Barcelona’s training ground on Tuesday.

Why is this of note? Xavi’s squad had actually been granted a day of rest.

Also present at the Ciudad Deportiva, meanwhile, were all of Gavi, Pedri, Frenkie de Jong and Andreas Christensen, amid their respective injury recovery plans.

Following a narrow win over Las Palmas, Barcelona have ample time to prepare for their Champions League quarterfinal encounter against Paris Saint-Germain on April 10.

PSG, though, appear to have already kickstarted their scouting mission and may even raid Barça this summer.

According to Catalunya Radio, PSG have set their sights on Jules Kounde and Hector Fort ahead of the UCL tie against Barcelona.

The French champions, quite evidently, are looking for reinforcements in the defensive unit, especially after a series of injuries to key players throughout the season.

To that end, PSG have identified Kounde and Fort as potential candidates, as Luis Enrique looks to beef up his options at the back.

Kounde, who has largely been utilised as a right-back at Barcelona, is regarded as one of France’s best defensive talents. His versatility could come in handy for PSG next season.

Fort, meanwhile, is one of multiple La Masia products making a breakthrough this season. A right-back by trade, the youngster possesses immense potential and could be one for the future.

The report adds that PSG and Barcelona have held talks in recent weeks regarding Kounde and Fort.

Barcelona, though, made it clear that they do not want to consider any offers for Fort, who is seen as a future prospect in the right-back unit.

As for Kounde, however, it appears Barça are ready to hold talks with the French champions, knowing the Frenchman may yield significant revenue.

Kounde, due to his age and potential, does indeed have a high valuation. Moreover, the Catalans might not require his services going forward, should Fort make a bigger breakthrough next season.

Keeping that in mind, it seems Barcelona are not completely ruling out the sale of Kounde, who will certainly be one of the players in focus as the two teams lock horns on April 10.

The hopes of Barcelona’s supporters of one day seeing Manchester City front man Erling Haaland take to the pitch in the famed colors of their club have today been afforded a boost.

Haaland, for his part, represents a long-term ‘dream’ signing for Barcelona president Joan Laporta, who views the 23-year-old as a needed ‘superstar’ addition to the club’s ranks.

In turn, plans are already understood to have been put in place, to launch an all-out assault for Haaland’s signature in the summer of 2025.

And one individual who appears to be of the opinion that Barca should be quietly confident in their pursuit of the prolific striker, comes in the form of Bojan Krkic.

Speaking in an interview with Cadena SER’s “Què T’hi Jugues” (as cited by Diario Sport) on Tuesday, Bojan, father of the ex-Blaugrana starlet of the same name, who also spent time working in the scouting department in Catalunya, assured that Haaland himself is keen on linking up with the club:

“Erling Haaland prioritizes Barça. If he has to choose between Barça and Madrid, he would go to Barça.”

Not only that, but Bojan went on to add that the transfer, based on his latest information, could ‘very easily’ come to fruition with a view to the 2025/26 campaign.

As we head towards the business end of the 2023/24 season, it’s imperative that each player in the Barcelona squad digs in and wrings every last drop of effort out of their performances.

The likelihood of the Blaugranes winning either La Liga or the Champions League is slim at present and most would say it’s just a pipe dream – but it’s not impossible that one or the other could be landed.

The odds are certainly better than when Barca faced a four-goal first-leg deficit against Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League seven years ago (is it really that long?!).

The players that are going to step up and raise their heads above the parapet. Players that will turn doubters into believers.

The tide is slowly turning already in that regard too given how well the team have played since Xavi effectively publicly handed in his resignation.

One player that culers could take or leave at this stage is Joao Felix, though as the Portuguese showed against Las Palmas, he has that certain something that can help win games.

According to Diario Sport journalist Toni Juanmartí, Ajax have added Barcelona boss Xavi Hernández to their list of candidates to take over as manager next season. The 44-year-old will leave Spanish giants at the end of the season, making him available for a new role.

Last week, Ajax boss John Van ‘t Schip confirmed that he won’t continue as head coach next season, but he may take on another role at the Johan Cruyff Arena. The Amsterdam club have identified several candidates as possible successors to Van ‘t Schip, and Xavi has emerged as the latest. The Spaniard replaced Ronald Koeman as Barcelona boss in November 2021, and his since guided the Catalan club to one La Liga title and a Spanish super cup. Three defeats and seven draws this season have left Barca eight points behind Real Madrid in top spot. Xavi has come under pressure plenty of times this season, which resulted in the announcement of his resignation in January.

Ajax will be looking to reset next season after an enduring nightmare campaign plagued with dozens of different problems. They’re currently 5th in the Eredivisie table and on course for their worst league finish since the 99/00 season. The Dutch giants are out of the Europa Conference League following defeat to Aston Villa and are a laughing stock up and down the Netherlands at the present.

This could be a project perfect for someone like Xavi, who aims to play attractive possession-based football. The Barca icons record with nurturing young talent could come in handy at Ajax, who are known to have one of the best academy’s in world football. However, Xavi is said to be one of many candidates on Ajax’s shortlist and there will be other clubs keen to make a move for the head coach.

Barcelona’s recent 1-0 win over Las Palmas involved a performance deserving of a more flattering scoreline. Xavi’s men were on top for the better part of the game, but a fascinating tactical battle kept the result in doubt until the final whistle.

The visitors went down to ten men midway through the first half and were forced to play with a disadvantage for the rest of the game. Yet, they did not make it simple for the Catalans as only a solitary Raphinha strike helped them take home three points.

After a comprehensive analysis of Barcelona on the night, the strengths, weaknesses, and standout players involved, Barça Universal brings you a deeper analysis of the team’s performance and the tactical battle that unfolded on the night.

Xavi’s lineup on the night spoke a lot about his intentions to maintain the team’s momentum and push for three points as he opted to deploy his strongest available XI.

Marc Andre Ter Stegen started in goal with Inigo Martinez and Pau Cubarsi lining up defensively in Ronald Araujo’s absence. Jules Kounde and Joao Cancelo stuck to their roles at full-back.

With Andreas Christensen unavailable, Ilkay Gundogan was paired with Sergi Roberto and Fermin Lopez in midfield while Lamine Yamal and Raphinha flanked Robert Lewandowski in attack.

The match stuck to the expected script right from the get-go as both teams looked to build from the back. The common approach caused both sides to press high and individually.

Until Las Palmas’ Alvaro Valles was sent off in the 25th minute, Barcelona had already recovered seven balls in the opponent’s half. Moreover, the move that caused Valles’ expulsion also stemmed from a recovery at the edge of midfield.