Xavi Hernandez has some problems ahead of Barcelona’s second league game of the season, against Cadiz. The campaign is still young, but the manager will be without the services of Raphinha and Ronald Araujo on the night.
The Brazilian international was sent off and will serve his suspension while the centre-back is injured and ruled out for at least the next month.
According to reports from Mundo Deportivo, Xavi Hernandez has called up youth team prospects Pau Cubarsi and Dani Rodriguez to train with the first team ahead of the Cadiz encounter.
A chance to be called up against Cadiz
The manager called up both players to train with the senior team on Friday. The teenagers joined the likes of Lamine Yamal and Fermin Lopez and could even make the squad to face Cadiz at the weekend.
The 18-year-old Dani Rodriguez is one of La Masia’s most promising wingers known for his ability on the ball and pace down the flank. While he is not likely to start, an appearance off the bench cannot be ruled out if he makes the squad.
Cubarsi, meanwhile, is just 16 years of age and is considered to be the creme-de-la-creme of the academy’s defensive prodigies.
He has trained with the first team in the past and could well feature against Cadiz if anything unforeseen happens to the on-duty defenders. After all, Inigo Martinez is also unavailable through injury and registration delay.
Doors open for Gavi?
Meanwhile, the upcoming game could be crucial for Barcelona’s Golden Boy Gavi, who did not play any part in the team’s pre-season tour to the USA through injury.
Fast forward to the side’s first league encounter, he was left on the bench as the fifth-choice midfielder behind Ilkay Gundogan, Oriol Romeu, Frenkie de Jong, and Pedri.
Gavi is understandably not entirely pleased with his situation and hopes to push his way back into the starting lineup.
With Raphinha injured, he could get the start against Cadiz and look to capitalise on the same. The newly called-up Rodriguez will thus serve only as a replacement.
