Xavi will no longer include Barcelona youth players in squad lists if they are unlikely to play – report

While it is good for the young footballers to even get called into the main roster for the matchday squads without having any sort of minutes, the decision actually makes little sense for the senior management and the youth team setup.

This is exactly what’s happening at Barcelona right now. Since Xavi took over the reins, several youth team players have been called into the matchday squad without having any sort of relevance in the match.

During the previous season, there were multiple instances where Pablo Torre found himself with minimal playing time, both with the first team and the reserve squad. 

The young player consistently moved between these two sides, yet he struggled to secure substantial minutes on the field. As a result, the decision to embark on a loan move to Girona eventually emerged as the more logical choice.

Marc Casado is the latest victim

Although the relationship between Xavi and Barça Atletic manager Rafa Marquez is excellent, SPORT is reporting that this constant juggling of youth team players is beginning to have an effect.

As such, Xavi has started making shorter squad lists in recent matches, as per the new policy at Barcelona. Players like Marc Casado, who are crucial to Barça Atlétic, will not be called up with the first team if they’re unlikely to actually play.

Casado, the captain of Barça Atletic, remains an invaluable asset in Rafa Márquez’s roster, though curiously, his name appeared on the team sheet for each of Barcelona’s initial seven matches of the season, yet he never graced the pitch, not even as a substitute.

However, this does not necessarily mean that Xavi does not count on the youth team players. 

Communication is the key

On the contrary, if the communication is right, Marquez will have a deeper roster of key players at his disposal, particularly when it’s foreseen that they might not feature in the first team. 

This is where communication between the two managers comes into effect.

Xavi has now taken steps to fine-tune his selections to the extent that in the clash with Sevilla, he selected a mere 20 players.

Simultaneously, Casado is diligently training under the mentorship of Marquez, gearing up to lead the team in the pivotal encounter against Celta Fortuna this Sunday at the Estadi Johan Cruyff.

While he continues to dream of playing for the first team, the opportunity will only come when the moment is right.