The injuries to Gavi, Pedri, and De Jong cast uncertainty over the Barça squad, prompting Xavi to explore all possible alternatives.
The coincidence of injuries to Gavi, Pedri, and De Jong has left Barcelona’s midfield depleted for the crucial stretch of the league and the Champions League, forcing Xavi Hernández to consider all alternatives. In the first-team squad, midfielders Oriol Romeu and Andreas Christensen (a converted center-back) remain available, along with interior players Ilkay Gündogan, Fermín López, and Sergi Roberto. It’s worth noting that Joao Félix and Raphinha could potentially fulfill this role.
However, according to Javier Gascon of Mundo Deportivo, Barcelona’s coach has always shown courage in turning to the B team or youth academy when necessary, and he has various options at his disposal. One such option is the absence of creative midfielder Aleix Garrido, who is currently injured despite having been officially included in the plans.
Marc Casado
While his natural position is as a central midfielder and Rafa Márquez has occasionally fielded him as a right-back due to injuries, he can also play as an interior midfielder due to his good touch, stamina, and tactical sense. It’s an interesting case because he has had official minutes in three Champions League matches over two seasons but has yet to debut in the league despite being called up by Xavi on more than 30 occasions. He’s an organizer and a good ball-winner.
Unai Hernandez
Regular in Xavi Hernández’s training sessions and in friendlies, although he has not yet made his official debut for the first team. An interior midfielder with very offensive characteristics, he can also play as a winger and has a knack for scoring (five goals with the reserve team this season). He’s an attacking midfielder.
Moha Moukhliss
A 24-year-old pure interior midfielder, a regular for Rafa Márquez at Barça Atlètic due to his experience in assisting the younger players in the Primera RFEF, but has only been considered by Xavi for a couple of training sessions. He was trained at Real Madrid and belongs to Andorra, who has loaned him to the Barcelona reserve team for the second consecutive season. He possesses good touch and precision for set-piece deliveries.
Marc Bernal
A talent from the youth football ranks whom many hope will be placed as a central midfielder in the not-too-distant future. He can also play as an interior midfielder, as he has done in the reserve team alongside Casadó. At 16 years old, he is already an important figure at Barça Atlètic, where his powerful physique suits him physically. A left-footer with a lot of class, power, and ability to reach the opponent’s goal if given freedom.
Noah Darvich
A German prospect arrived this season, he struggled to adapt to Barça Atlètic, but gradually he’s showing his quality and strength. Winning the Under-17 World Cup with Germany served him well, and if the opportunity from Xavi comes, it would be at the peak of his form this season.
Pau Prim
A midfield product of the academy, he can also play as an interior midfielder due to his understanding of the game. Supportive, tactical, and technically sound, he trained with the first team on Monday, alongside Casadó, following the injuries to Pedri and De Jong. While Rafa Márquez prefers Marc Bernal in the reserve team, who is even younger, Xavi often includes Prim in training sessions and friendlies.
Quim Junyent
Among the youth team midfielders who most impress Xavi is one who masters the concepts that the current first-team coach believes have gradually been lost in the Barcelona youth academy: body positioning upon receiving the ball, first touch, vision of the game… His drawback might be his physicality, but he compensates for it with technique and intelligence. Xavi frequently calls him up for training sessions.
Xavi Espart
He can play in all three midfield positions and as a right-back in a ‘Kimmich-style’ role. Like Quim Junyent, he is one of the talents Xavi closely monitors to the extent that he has also participated in training sessions.
Juan Hernández
A 16-year-old from Teruel, he is an attacking midfielder who can also play as a ‘false 9’. Last weekend, he scored two goals for the Juvenil A team in their victory against Platges de Calvià (0-2). He shows daring, and Xavi already knows him from various training sessions.
Guille Fernández
He has everything to make it to the first team of Barça if he maintains his progress. Stamina, quality, power, goal-scoring ability. He’s still a cadet, and under normal circumstances, it would be crazy for Xavi to include him, but Lamine Yamal also made his debut at 15 years old. He has been in the reserve team’s matchday squads without making an appearance and has participated in several of Xavi’s training sessions. He alternates between Juvenil A and B teams. Recently, he scored four goals for the Spain U-17 team in a 7-0 win over Germany.
