Matchday 10 of the 2023/2024 La Liga season had Barcelona facing Athletic Bilbao at Camp Nou. They needed a win to become only one point short of Real Madrid and Girona on the league table, who were postured assertively at first and second. This game was absolutely crucial for the Catalan side, and they were aware of it.

They found themselves fighting multiple battles. Their main goal scorer, Robert Lewandowski was injured, along with multiple key members of the team. And Athletic Bilbao had conceded the fifth lowest amount of goals in the league, courtesy of an impressive defense.

79 minutes into the game and Barcelona failed to score, leaving a myriad of failed attempts in their wake. Crossbar shots, off-target shots and saved shots, it seemed Barcelona would have to settle for anything but a victory.

Xavi Hernandez sought a solution. As a product of La Masia himself, he had been raised on the ideology that coated the ideals of anyone associated with the Catalan club- La Masia’s productivity and reliability. He turned to Marc Guiu, a 17 year old La Masia graduate who hadn’t played a professional competitive game up to that point, and ushered him onto the field.

Guiu jogged onto the field with the enthusiasm typical of a debutant eager to show the world his power. A few seconds later, João Félix played a brilliant pass to his path. He easily outpaced the defenders marking him, and in a moment, the ball danced to the rhythm of his feet alone. It was just him and Bilbao’s goalkeeper, Unai Simón. A lean and a shot later, the ball spun in the back of the nest.

Camp Nou erupted. Marc Guiu was restless with joy. He had scored 23 seconds into his debut, pulling Barcelona out of a frustrating ditch. Xavi Hernandez smiled on, his faith in La Masia was once again rewarded. Barcelona held on to their lead till the end, gaining some much needed points in the La Liga title race.

La Masia is one of the most respected youth academies in the world, with a famed history of building talent into world class footballers. In 2009, Barcelona won the Champions League with a team that featured 8 La Masia graduates. In 2010, the Ballon D’Or top 3 nominees were all La Masia graduates: Lionel Messi, Andrés Iniesta and Xavi Hernandez. In 2010, Spain won the World Cup with a team that had 7 La Masia graduates.

These are achievements that no other youth academy could boast of, La Masia had built a pedestal of its own. Yet, in a bid to remain at the pinnacle of European football, Barcelona lessened its focus on its world class youth academy and brought in more big money signings.

They ruined themselves, both physically, and financially. They began to understand that their best way into the future was to peer at their history.

So, they hired former player and La Masia graduate Xavi Hernandez. He affirmed that if Barcelona was to return to the champions they once were, they would have to pay more attention to La Masia. Barcelona had spent a massive amount of money on failed signings, so it was not illogical to deduce that foreign talent was not always a requirement of a good team.

Xavi has since stuck to his word, winning the 2022/2023 La Liga title with a first team that consisted of 9 La Masia graduates. The last 2 Golden Boy winners (Pedri and Gavi) have also came from La Masia, and they seem to be the foundation upon which Barcelona wish to build their future. Barcelona are slowly restoring their values of old.

Marc Guiu is the latest of a long line of stars to shine through the La Masia academy, and with the resources behind him, success in his career should be just within reach.

-Julius

*Photo courtesy of CNN