Xavi Espart Called Up to Spain U-19

Barcelona's Xavi Espart Called Up to Spain U-19 Squad

18-year-old right-back debuts for Barcelona’s first team and earns national youth call-up

BlaugranaNews EditorialMarch 21, 20261 min read

So what

Espart’s call to Spain U-19 marks a key milestone in his rising career after breaking into Barcelona’s senior side.

Xavi Espart, a La Masia graduate, recently made his first-team debut for FC Barcelona under manager Hansi Flick. The 18-year-old right-back featured as a substitute in the Champions League round of 16 first leg against Newcastle United and started a La Liga match against Sevilla.

Following these appearances, Espart received a call-up to the Spain U-19 national team coached by Paco Gallardo. The squad is preparing for the ‘Elite Round’ qualifiers ahead of the European U-19 Championship, facing Slovenia, Finland, and the Netherlands.

Alongside Espart, teammate Quim Junyent also made the U-19 squad. Meanwhile, midfielder Marc Bernal has been called up to Spain’s U-21 team, ready to play an important role in their European Championship qualification matches against Cyprus and Kosovo after recovering from injury.

These call-ups highlight Barcelona’s academy strength in developing young talents for Spain’s national teams. For Espart, the U-19 call represents a crucial step toward establishing himself both at club and international level.