Barcelona secure team for the future with HUGE new deal

Muhammad Butt

Updated: 13 Feb 2025 11:45 CST
5 min read

Barcelona academy La Masia graduates Pau Cubarsi, Alejandro Balde, Gavi, Marc Bernal, Marc Casado and Lamine Yamal — © IMAGO

Barcelona have been quietly building a monstrous team for the future.

Pau Cubarsi has now renewed his contract with the club until 2029. The teenager's deal had been due to expire and so the Blaugrana made his renewal a priority once they returned to 1:1.

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The contract extension is a four year one, although given Cubarsi's immense quality one can expect another renewal coming in two years, and this one likely with a significant pay bump if the centre-back continues his massively upward trajectory.

Cubarsi debuted just over a year ago at the age of 16 against Unionistas de Salamanca in the Copa del Rey. His performance was so impressive that then-manager Xavi put him into the starting XI against Real Betis in La Liga and he has been a near-constant presence ever since.

Now 18, Cubarsi is arguably one of the best defenders in all of Europe, having already proven he has the talent to deal with monster forwards like Victor Osimhen and Kylian Mbappé. He's strong at the tackle point, dominant in the air and absolutely resplendent on the ball.

Locking Cubarsi down to an extension means that Barcelona have secured a rock solid base for the spine of their side. He's already excellent and, injury permitting, has the potential to get even better as his experience grows.

© IMAGO - Cubarsi has already proven himself against some of the world's best players.

Barcelona: a team for the future

While everyone expected Barcelona's return to 1:1 to herald a swath of new signings, the Blaugrana opted for a different route while still building a dominant team for the future.

Instead of letting speculation build, Barcelona took the chance to secure to long-term deals the core of their squad. Their first steps were the fantastic four, two from La Masia, two signed for miniscule fees, that make up the core of the side.

Cubarsi was one, of course.

The first to be renewed was Pedri, who signed a new deal until 2030. The 22 year-old has blossomed this season into arguably the best midfielder in the world. He is a midfielder of spectacular vision, grace, poise and penetration.

Next was Gavi, straight out of La Masia. The 20 year-old has only just regained fitness after a horrible ACL injury kept him out for a year, but Barcelona showed 0 hesitation in renewing him until 2030.

Gavi is a ferociously competitive and defensive machine, more akin to N'Golo Kanté than any other La Masia graduate. His presence adds some much-needed physical presence, despite his diminutive stature.

After Gavi came towering centre-back Ronald Araujo. The Uruguayn is admittedly older at 25, but was signed for a very small fee and developed immensely by training with La Masia graduates when he first joined the club as a youngster.

© IMAGO - Ronald Araujo finally signed a new deal after much speculation he'd leave.

Araujo had been linked with a move away, but in the end he renewed until 2031. This is a huge signing as it gives Barcelona leverage to demand a hefty fee if they sell him, but also means that if he stays he's staying for a while to partner Cubarsi at the heart of the defence.

There are more players, too. Fermin Lopez is a 21 year-old attacking midfielder who plays with a directness and eye for goal that seems more Frank Lampard than La Masia. His contract runs until 2029 and while he is a no. 10 by trade he can even play left-wing.

Marc Casado is a 21 year-old La Masia graduate who has emerged as a dependable and tigrish force in central midfield. He is contracted until 2028 but don't be surprised if he gets a new deal soon to confirm his status as a genuine first-teamer.

Similarly, Alejandro Balde is contracted until 2028 as well. The left-back is also just 21 years-old and is having a true breakout season under Hansi Flick. Given his agent is Jorge Mendes a renewal is very likely going to be on the cards.

Marc Bernal is just 17 years-old and currently injured with an ACL tear. His contract expires in 2026 but there is an option to extend that. However, if he returns to fitness and begins playing anywhere close to the level he was at when he got hurt? Barcelona will renew him rapidly.

The big one, however, is Lamine Yamal. The 17 year-old setting the world alight with his genius displays this season after breaking out in the last campaign as a 16 year-old.

The sky is the limit for this prodigy, both in terms of his ability but also the money Barcelona will end up paying to keep him at the club.

With a contract expiring in 2026 and Jorge Mendes as his agent, this young stud is about to get paid and then some. His contract renewal will complete this monstrous team for the future that Barcelona is already building, and we haven't even mentioned 18 year-old goalie Diego Kochen, 18 year-old full-back Hector Fort and 16 year-old midfielder Toni Fernandez!

Just about the only positions Barcelona aren't blessed with a young player bursting through are striker and left-wing, and even then Fermin Lopez has shown he can play left-wing to a decent level. So it's really just striker where they are lacking.