Report: Two more Barcelona B players set for promotion to the senior team

For the first time in several years, La Masia has started to seem important to Barcelona. This can be, in large parts, attributed to the appointment of Joan Laporta as the president of the club, and the financial crisis they are going through.

As such, Barça are ready to permanently promote two players from Barcelona B, Mundo Deportivo reports. These two players are Alex Collado and Inaki Pena. The Spanish duo joined first-team training earlier this week and will not be moving back to the youth setup. They will be among first-team semantics or sold to top-division teams.

Collado was named the captain of Barcelona B prior to the start of the 2020/21 season and scored his personal high eight goals in 22 appearances in the Segunda B division. His promotion to the first-team is said to be long overdue, and he could be getting his chance this season, finally.

A lot of the same can be said for Inaki Pena, who has been with the B team for over three years now. Last season, though, he was constantly in and out of the senior team squad list as the third, and often second choice goalkeeper.

His crowning moment, though, came as the B team faced off against UCAM Murcia for promotion. When the game went to penalties, Pena stepped up and saved four(!) penalties in one shoot-out. Garcia Pimienta’s side failed to climb up the ladder, but it was truly a sensational showing from the Spaniard in goal.

While Pena’s promotion and participation with the first-team depends on Neto’s departure, Collado will be able to find a place in the team more easily, in theory. After the sale of Fransisco Trincao, Barça are left with just Ousmane Dembele as a natural right-winger in the team, who is out for half a season. Collado can occupy that position without any problem, while also extending a helping hand in midfield.