By Pere Puní and Ricard Torquemada. Updated 09/02/2026 05:45 CET. There are clubs in Europe that can rival Barcelona in signings, trophies and public image, but apart from isolated examples like Athletic, no team on the planet competes for every prize relying on so many young players born and developed in its own academy.
Some critics will attribute the concentration of homegrown players to the club’s financial problems — an influence that cannot be denied. Still, that does not negate La Masia’s ability to work with young talent and turn it into sporting reality. The production of midfielders is especially striking.
The Barça–Mallorca game, which featured seven academy graduates in the starting XI, offered a panoramic snapshot of the scale of that work. With Pedri injured and De Jong rested, coach Flick began with Casadó, Dani Olmo and Fermín, and by the end the midfield included Casadó, Marc Bernal and Tommy Franqués. Barcelona dominated the match and controlled it in their sacred engine room with five midfielders of different profiles and generations.
Each player followed a distinct path: Dani Olmo matured abroad before returning; Marc Bernal has long been a highlighted name; Fermín seemed to plateau until Xavi rescued him; Casadó seized the opportunity Flick gave him when he might have abandoned the dream; and for Tommy it was an unforgettable debut. It could be coincidence if we looked only at isolated cases, but broaden the view and you also see players like Gavi, hampered by injuries, or Dro, who chose to continue his development at PSG.
It is also worth noting the long-standing trend of French center-backs across Europe: Saliba at Arsenal, Upamecano at Bayern, Konaté at Liverpool, Fofana and Badiashile at Chelsea, Lenglet at Atlético Madrid, young Yoro at Manchester United, and players like Koundé or Kalulu who have been recycled to the flank just as Pavard or Lucas Hernández were. These are top-level options for the French national team: typically powerful defenders, strong in the air and increasingly comfortable on the ball for build-up, though decision-making still offers room for improvement. A true denomination of origin.
