Ansu follows the path of other youth players who did not meet expectations.
The loan from Ansu Fati moves to Monaco, although no transfer, sounds almost like a farewell. One of the biggest recent talents in the Barça youth system and one of the players who fell great expectations seems to follow the path of many others who have left the Catalan club without success, even though he is a product of La Masia with the necessary talent to settle in the first team in the first team
And the home base of the Barça Youth Academy is praising like no other in phases such as the current one, where a large number of football players who have come through the lower categories are now feeding the team of Hansi Flick. The time of the German starts to look like Guardiola, where the backbone of the team consisted of youth players. Where Busquets, Xavi, Iniesta, Pedro and Messi were, we now find Cubarsí, Gavi, Casadó or Lamine. But there are many others who have fallen outside the road or, like Ansu Fati, had to look for their chance far from the Spotify Camp Nou.
Based on their performance, expectations and presence in the first team, these are the top 10 youth players who have left the club in the past decade without meeting expectations. This is the disadvantage of La Masía:
Ansu Fati
His turnout in the 19-20 season seemed to position him as the heir for Leo Messi. That is quite a challenge, but his convenience of scoring and his ability in tight spaces pointed to him as the most promising youth player of recent times. A meniscus injury in 2020 started a test that led to four operations. He has never been the same since then. His move to Monaco is the second attempt to reclaim him after his failed loan say in Brighton. Six seasons in the first team: 123 matches, 29 goals and 7 assists. Loans to Brighton and Monaco.
Nico González
One of the promising youth players who have arrived thanks to Xavi Hernández. His versions were optimal and his departure the following season, on loan to Valencia, surprised many. Porto came after him and paid € 8.5 million for his purchase. However, the Catalans reserved 40% of a future sale that came the following year. City paid its release clause of € 60 million and added an extra € 24 million in income for the Catalan club. It always seemed like he could have had a place in the midfield of Barça. One season in the first team: 39 games, 2 goals and 2 assists. € 32.5 million in income from his transfers (€ 8.5 million from Porto and € 24 million from the city).
EZ Abde
The competent Moroccan winger seemed destined for a place in the Barça of Xavi Hernández, but he was not satisfied with a supporting role and decided to leave the club in search of a destination where he would be an undisputed starter. His performance in Betis improves, but it seems unlikely that we will see Barça wearing Barça again in the near future. Two seasons in the first team: 67 matches, 10 goals and 2 assists. € 550,000 on loan to Osasuna and sold to Betis for € 7.5 million, with a purchasing option and 50% of its rights in a future sale.
Riqui puig
From the very first moment he gave the impression that he was made the classic Barça DNA midfielder in La Masía. His first performances with the first team, after excel in the reserve team, led to excitement about his future. He debuted under Ernesto Valverde, but coaches – Setién, Koeman, Xavi – coupons one after the other and nobody offered him some continuity. Tired of being on the couch, he drew an unexpected transfer to Los Angeles Galaxy, leaving the elite too early. Four seasons with the first team: 57 matches, 2 goals and 3 assists. He has a fine option and 50% of his rights in a future sale.
Carles Aleñá
A very similar matter like that of Riqui Puig. He stood out very early on his arrival at the reserve team and Luis Enrique gave him his debut in the 16-17 season. He alternated between the reserve team and the first team until he entered the dynamics of the last with Valverde on the bank. He has never developed fully, and after two loan spells on Betis and Getafe, the Madrid club has gained him downright. Last season he played on loan in Alavés. Five seasons in the first team: 44 games, three goals and no assists. Sold to Getafe for € 5 million and 50% of the player's rights in a future sale.
Oscar Mingueza
The Catalan defender made his first team debut in the 20-21 season and impressed by his intensity and calmness from the start. He regularly played during his two seasons and already showed the first glimpse of what he would later demonstrate in attack. He alternated between the full-back and central back positions and grew steadily until he came to Celta Vigo in the summer of 2022, where he further developed his attacking qualities. Two seasons with the first team: 66 performances, two goals and five assists. Sold to Celta Vigo for € 5 million and 50% of the player's rights in a future sale.
Gerard Deulofeu
The skilled winger has been one of the great hope of the Barça youth system in recent decades. And certainly one of those who generated the greatest expectations and originated far from them. He blinded at the national team at youth level and recovered his form during his Premier League adventures with Everton and Watford, but he never convinced one of the managers who passed Barça to give him a chance on a regular basis. Injuries did not help his career as planned. Three seasons in the first team: 23 games, 2 goals and 2 assists. Sold to Everton for 6 million, bought back for 12 million and sold it to Watford for 13 million.
Munir El Haddadi
His preseason with Luis Enrique in the 14-15 season helped him to secure a place in the first team after he was the top scorer of the team during that preparation period. He scored on his La Liga debut and soon led to excitement about his future as a Barça player. The national team was fast to sign him to a full international, so he would not play for Morocco. All those positive signs, however, gradually faded and he never found continuity in his three seasons in his first spell as a Barça player. Then Leen Proverbs came to Valencia and Alavés, and a short return to the 18-19 season that could not yield the expected repayment. Four seasons in the first team: 56 matches, 12 goals and 9 assists. Transfer to Seville for € 1 million.
Martín Montoya
Called to occupy the right back position for Barça for Barça, made his debut under Guardiola and became a regular backup by Dani Alves. He performed well from the bank, but decided with the difficulty to find a place, decided to follow a career away from Camp Nou. He was a fixture in the youth teams of the national team and played decent, especially at Betis, where he enjoyed two spells in which he found continuity. He spent five seasons with the first team: 67 games, two goals and 12 assists. After several loan spells, he went permanently to Valencia.
Cristian Tello
The lightning-fast Sabadell wing player debuted under Guardiola and was constantly enjoying success under Tito Vilanova and Tata Martino. Tello, however, never settled in the starting line -up. After loan spells with Porto and Fiorentina, he eventually signed for Real Betis. He spent three seasons in the first team: 86 performances, 20 goals and 14 assists. He was sold to Betis in 2017 for € 4 million plus € 1 million in variables.
Other cases
We were able to add many others to these top ten players, such as Marc Cucurella, Ilias Akhomach, José Arnáiz, Sandro Ramírez, Carles Pérez, Juan Miranda, Sergi Palencia, Sergi Samper, Jordi Masip, Arnau tenaona in the Barcelona who could find their moment with their moment. The chance to stay away from the Spotify Camp Nou in the elite. Because not all La Masía paths lead to the first team.