Barcelona building a Wonderkid XI: From Yamal & Williams to Pedri & Cubarsi

Bence Bocsák

22 Jul 2024 16:00 BST
4 min read

Nico Williams, Lamine Yamal, Barcelona — © IMAGO

The last few years have been relatively bleak for Barcelona. Despite lifting the league title in 2022/23 - this has been an era dominated by Real Madrid. But that could be about to change as Barcelona look to build for the future.

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At Euro 2024, we've seen a Spain side dominate the tournament notably led by Barcelona's Lamine Yamal - regarded as football's next big thing for a generation to come.

Alongside him, Nico Williams, was also an exciting presence in the Spain team. Now he too could be closing in on a move to Barcelona. If that deal gets completed then there is no denying the future is bright at the Nou Camp.

Yamal is just 17 years old, Williams has only recently turned 22 years old. And they are only just two names among a host of other exciting young talents who will now look to shine under Hansi Flick.

Starting from defence, Barcelona have the supremely talented Pau Cubarsi in their ranks - who like Yamal came through the famed La Masia system - and is already a senior Spanish international despite also only being 17 years old.

Cubarsi has caught the eye in the Champions League last season and is already a regular member of Barca's first team squad.

In the same squad is 20 year old Alejandro Balde - who is also extremely highly rated and he too has represented Spain at senior international level.

Elsewhere in defence, Hector Fort is regarded as a big talent at right-back and he too is only 17 years old as well but already a first team member.

© IMAGO - Lamine Yamal is Barcelona's future.

Barcelona are building a wonderkid XI

In midfield Gavi and Pedri have both been highly rated from a young age. The former is still only 19 years old, meanwhile the latter is 21 years old. Both of them represent the future of Barcelona and Spain.

But they are not alone. 21 year old Fermin Lopez caught the eye at Barcelona last season and even earned himself a place in Spain's Euro 2024 squad - making one appearance at the tournament. The attacking midfielder is another really highly rated prospect at the club.

There are also high hopes about Guille Fernandez at the club, who is a 16 year old prospect who has made his way up the ranks at La Masia and has caught the eye at U17 level for Spain.

Up top, Yamal and Williams would be a dream duo. But there's also the highly rated Ansu Fati, who is still just 21 years old and could revive his career. Not to mention 19 year old Brazilian forward Vitor Roque, who is yet to get his chance at the club - but could do so now under Flick.

It's an exciting generation of players. One that has the potential to rival the 'super team' that Real Madrid are building at the moment with Jude Bellingham, Kylian Mbappe and Vinicius Junior leading the way for the new Galacticos.

Barcelona may be behind their arch rivals in the next couple of years, but in the long-term there is every potential for Flick to lead this side to being as competitive as they once were and to make El Classico one again one of the most sought after fixtures on the footballing calendar.