Xavi keeping tabs on Barcelona youngster after incredible return from injury – report

Barça Atletic starlet Angel Alarcon has shown incredible resolve and has returned from a serious knee injury with a bang.

One of the club’s most promising youth prospects, Alarcon had burst onto the scene with the subsidiary and made a huge impact for Rafa Marquez’s side.

He missed a chunk of action at the beginning of the 22/23 season due to a knee injury and then had to undergo surgery towards the tail-end of it in May due to a bigger knee issue that sidelined him for five months.

But just last week, he has finally returned after his long spell on the sidelines and has shown just why so much praise has been heaped on his potential.

And according to SPORT, the youngster could be on Xavi’s radar to slot into the first team dynamics again.

Wondergoal against Porto

After playing 20 minutes against Celta Vigo’s reserve team last weekend, Alarcon continued to be eased into action as he was given 25 minutes against Porto in the UEFA Youth League.

A goal that took everyone by surprise due to its quality, but more so by the confidence and power he displayed in the lead-up to it.

After a Porto corner was cleared by the Barcelona defenders and knocked onto Alarcon who was still close to his own box.

The youngster drove with great pace and intent all the way to the goal before burying the finish even leaving three Porto players in his wake.

For someone coming off such a lengthy knee injury, this is quite rare given that they tend to be much more conservative with explosive movements, but the signs are incredibly promising for the 19-year-old.

An option for the first team?

Alarcon has already made five appearances for the first team under Xavi, which shows that the manager does trust his potential as well, and he is among three Barcelona youth forwards who can slot into the team at this tricky time.

And given Barcelona’s woes with injuries lately, they could use all the reinforcements they need.

Raphinha and Robert Lewandowski have both been sidelined for a fair amount of time, which has left the Catalans’ attack seeming rather toothless.

SPORT have mentioned in their report that Alarcon is a very valuable boost for Marquez’s side, but Xavi is indeed keeping an eye on him and might call him up to the first team again.

But if Barcelona’s injury history in recent years has taught us anything, it is that relapses are the club’s worst enemy, and it would be foolish to thrust Alarcon into more physically intense action before he is completely fit again.