Barcelona prefer La Masia gem to start ahead of Ferran and Ansu Fati – report

Lamine Yamal has shaken up Barcelona in the best way possible, with the recently-turned 16-year-old dazzling everyone with his fearlessness and technical ability.

Now, with Ousmane Dembele’s departure and Raphinha picking up a red card against Getafe, Xavi Hernandez is once again left with a dilemma regarding who to play on the wings in the upcoming two games.

Cadiz, much like Getafe, are a side who have proven difficult for Barcelona to break down, and stretching the play down the flanks will be absolutely vital if the Catalans are to improve on their poor showing to start the season.

Yamal over Ferran Torres and Ansu Fati

Reports from Diario AS now suggest that the Catalans could turn to the teenager in the game against Cadiz, and that he is now higher up the pecking order, even above Ansu Fati and Ferran Torres.

The latter two have faced major fluctuations in form, but both had a promising pre-season, which makes it difficult to see Yamal getting extended game time ahead of Fati and Torres.

A big factor that needs to be considered with Yamal is to give him enough time to settle into the demands of senior football.

Rushing him into playing longer periods at high intensity could threaten his long term effectiveness, as he is still growing into his body and there is no reason to risk injury.

However, the 16-year-old is the perfect impact substitution to add threat in the latter stages of the second half.

Abde the sensible choice

It was reported earlier that Ez Abde is Xavi’s preferred winger, as the Moroccan is the most pure and direct winger at his disposal after Raphinha now.

He is another player who has had an impressive pre-season, and after looking like he could be on the verge of a departure, it now looks like he is firmly within contention for a regular role at Barcelona.

With a bit more experience than Yamal and as someone physically more suited to the game’s demands than Yamal off the bat, Abde would be the perfect player to deputise in Raphinha’s absence for the moment.