Xavi's Thirteen: Trusting the process
Marc Guiu has become the latest addition to Xavi’s list of debutants, since taking charge of F.C. Barcelona back in 2021. The “new kid in town” only needed 33 seconds and two touches to do what the rest of the team hadn’t achieved in 79 minutes. A crucial goal that allows Barça to make the most of Real Madrid’s slip-up, just days before the first ‘Clásico’ of the season.
With Guiu, a total of 13 ‘La Masía’ players have had the chance of making their dream come true thanks to Xavi. As it often happens, not that many have found stability in the first team, yet some are still young and should have time to make a name for themselves.
So let’s take a look at Xavi’s Thirteen:
1. Ilias Akhomach
Right from the get-go Xavi decided it was important for the fans and players to know that he wouldn’t hesitate when it came to giving the youngsters a chance. In his debut as Barça’s manager he immediately started Ilias Akhomach, who enjoyed 45 minutes of the Catalan derby. A few matches later he played against Mallorca and versus Linares in the Copa del Rey, yet he never fully convinced Xavi and is now trying his luck at Villarreal.
2. Ferran Jutglà
Shortly after Akhomach, Ferran Jutglà got his opportunity away against Osasuna. He only played for one minute, although he would go on to take part in the following five LaLiga games, also getting a taste of the Copa del Rey and the Supercopa de España, facing Real Madrid. He scored two goals and left a good impression among the club’s supporters. Unfortunately, in Xavi’s eyes he wasn’t all that he’d expected, so the youngster left to Clube Brugge in search of more playing time. He went on to score 15 goals and assisted 7 times in his first season there.
3. Estanis Pedrola
One of Barça’s most promising talents in recent years made his debut for the first team in late January 2022 in a league match against Mallorca. He played for 10 minutes and never got another shot since, aside from being called up as a back-up for certain games. In fact, now he’s no longer part of the Catalan club after playing 10 matches for Andrea Pirlo’s Sampdoria in this start to the season, triggering a clause which forces the Italian team to have to pay Barça two million euros for him. Although, there’s still a buy-back option in case Xavi decides to bring him back.
4. Álvaro Sanz
Álvaro Sanz took centre stage in the same game as Pedrola, and would even get a few more opportunities with Xavi, but he’s also moved on after over seven years at ‘La Masía’. He currently plays in the Spanish second tier for Mirandés, although Barça still own 45% of his player rights.
5. Mika Mármol
Xavi only got to see very few minutes of Mika Mármol on the pitch against Getafe, towards the end of the 21/22 season. The talented centre-back was then signed by Andorra, where he performed at a high level. This then attracted Las Palmas’ attention, who currently own 50% of the player and where he’s a regular starter under his former Barça B coach, Francisco García Pimienta. The other 50% remains Barça’s property.
6. Iñaki Peña
As of today, Iñaki Peña is Barça’s back-up keeper and the oldest youth player to have made his debut under Xavi’s command. It was in 2022, in a Champions League duel against Viktoria Plzen in which he was 23 years and 7 months old. Although he’d already been called up many times since the 18/19 season, mainly as the third keeper, he wouldn’t get the opportunity to debut until four years later with Xavi. He’s participated in five matches for Barça and even tried his luck during a short spell in Turkey, but still hasn’t found his place as a starter.
7. Marc Casadó
Marc Casadó’s debut also took place last season against Viktoria Plzen, playing 23 minutes, with no further participation up until today. Yet Xavi does often call him up to be among the substitutes in case he’s required to come onto the pitch to help out.
8. Chadi Riad
He took part in one of Barça’s most epic games in the club’s league winning season with Xavi, when they came back to defeat Osasuna by 1-2, despite playing with 10 men. Chadi Riad came in for Pedri in the 89th minute to try and secure the result. He didn’t get any further chances in the first team, but has now found his place as a starter at Real Betis.
9. Ángel Alarcón
Last season Xavi made him debut against Cádiz in LaLiga, and even gave him minutes in another four matches. Maybe hoping that at some point in the future he could give Robert Lewandowski a rest. Unfortunately, towards the end of the season he suffered a muscular injury, leading to an operation and a recovery which is still dragging on.
10. Aleix Garrido
Aleix Garrido was brought on to play six minutes against Elche in last year’s 0-4 away win, shortly after recovering from a rough ankle injury that kept him away for about four months. An unexpected opportunity given to him by Xavi, probably to let him know that he wants to see more of him in the near future. In fact, shortly after the club renewed his contract until 2025 with a 400 million euro release clause.
11. Lamine Yamal
What can we say about this wonder kid that hasn’t been mentioned yet? Not only did he make his debut when he was just 15 years old, becoming the youngest person to play for Barça’s senior squad, but he’s now a key player in Xavi’s rotation. He’s still young and needs to keep improving, but it looks like he could be a generational talent for the club.
12. Fermin López
His unofficial debut came in the best possible scenario, against Real Madrid, with a screamer from outside the box, followed by a gorgeous assist to Ferran Torres. Not many youngsters kick off their journey in the first team like that, which is why Xavi has maintained his trust in him and given him a secondary role in the squad. His official debut was at the start of this LaLiga campaign against Villarreal, and he’s been enjoying important minutes ever since. His previous loan at Linares Deportivo, where he scored 12 goals and gave four assists, seems to have done him well.
13. Marc Guiu
Last, but not least, Marc Guiu completes Xavi’s Thirteen. He’s considered to be a “killer” in the box, a player that takes his chances, and boy has he delivered so far. We’ll see what plans Xavi has for him, but it’s very, very likely we’ll see more of him in the first team.