In the soccer world, on April 14th, China time, Barcelona's youth storm is sweeping in. Coach Koeman has invested unprecedented enthusiasm in the cultivation of young players, and the results of this strategy have already appeared. The young players, after coming out of the doldrums, have demonstrated amazing growth potential, bringing new hope of revitalization for the red and blue army.
The Spanish daily sports newspaper had counted six young talents who are expected to become the mainstay of Barcelona: Araujo, Pedri, Fathi, Puji, Mingosa and Moriba. Their positional distribution is balanced, covering strikers, midfielders and defenders, as if foreshadowing the prototype of Barcelona's future starting lineup.
However, each of these six young players has a bright future ahead of them. Puji's potential seems limited, and although he runs the floor aggressively, his size disadvantage causes him to be prone to fouling on defense. Pudge's lack of height makes him a breakout player for opponents in both matchups and defensive coverage. Last season, Pudge was not considered a priority.
Barcelona tried to loan Pudji to another team, but the youngster insisted on staying with the team to prove himself and was not loaned out. Nonetheless, Pudji's future does not look promising. Meanwhile, Mingosa's performances have been middling, and while he has done moderately well in his first start since Piqué's injury, he has exposed his lack of experience and athleticism in strong matches.
In contrast, Araujo has been highly regarded for his performances over the course of the season and is seen as Pique's successor. He is athletic, aggressive on the ball and decisive in his handling, and has the potential to be a great defender. Youngster Moriba's performance was equally amazing. Despite being only 20 years old, his sophistication and sleekness on the field made it seem as if we were seeing the style of a 30-year-old veteran.
Pedri's outburst this season has been a huge gain for Barcelona, with his performance on the field reminiscent of a younger version of Iniesta. The team also sees him as a key development target. The media's unanimous assessment of Pedri is that he is able to keep up with Messi's thinking, which is a great affirmation of his ability.
As for Fathi, prior to his injury, he was probably the best young player in the world and the highest potential young player in the Barcelona squad. However, due to recurring injuries and surgery issues, it will take time to see if Ansu Fathi can continue to cash in on the talent.
