La Masia has lived up to its name as one of the world’s premier football academies in recent years. Time and time again, the goldmine of talents has come to Barcelona’s rescue at the highest level, delivering young players who play well beyond their years and at oar with the elite.
One constant setback faced by academy graduates, however, has been the lack of a physical presence and an overall delicate fitness scenario.
After all, Gavi, Alejandro Balde, and Ansu Fati are just some of the innumerable players to have fallen prey to regular and long-term injuries.
A new approach
According to reports from SPORT, Barcelona have identified a key area in their academy setup that they wish to improve at the earliest.
From now on, the emphasis will continue to be on helping players push towards the first team, but it will be with additional preparation.
The Catalans realise that, in recent years, the lack of physical preparation has been the root cause of their inability to participate in Europe.
La Masia graduates may be technically sound and positionally perfect, but they have seldom boasted of a dominant presence and physicality.
After months of deliberation, it has now been decided that the up-and-coming talents must make a push in terms of training.
In addition to training with the first team, players close to a debut at the highest level must now put in the extra grind on several afternoons a week to ramp up their fitness.
Needless to say, it will be under the guidance of supervisors and consultants and personalised for each player.
One rule for all
The aforementioned policy will apply to every player close to the first team, irrespective of age or bracket.
Barça Atletic players, indeed, will be regulars under such a training program but will be joined by any player from the lower ranks who is blossoming earlier than anticipated.
Barcelona realise they may be late to the race after neglecting physical training for years. However, they are now on a mission to undo their mistakes and prepare for the next decade, one that could have several La Masia gems as regulars including Lamine Yamal, Pau Cubarsi, Gavi, Balde, and Hector Fort.
