Teenage defender Xavi Espart has emerged as FC Barcelona's newest breakout star after starting at left-back in opening La Liga victories over Elche and Athletic Club.
The 19-year-old capitalized on transfer uncertainty surrounding Alejandro Balde and Joao Cancelo's lack of full fitness to earn a starting spot under manager Hansi Flick. Barcelona began their Spanish top-flight campaign in dominant fashion, sweeping past Elche 5-0 before securing a 2-0 victory against Athletic Club.
Off the pitch, Barcelona directors remain actively focused on the summer transfer window. The Catalan club's primary transfer target is forward Julian Alvarez from Atletico Madrid, though the capital side has refused to negotiate a deal. Alvarez is currently suffering from depression and has not attended Atletico training sessions as a result. Meanwhile, Spanish international left-back Balde will ultimately remain with Barcelona despite recent transfer speculation.
Praise from Spanish media
Espart's rise has drawn widespread acclaim in Spain, particularly from Madrid daily newspaper Marca, which reported that another star has been born at the Camp Nou. According to the publication, the youth academy graduate amazed Flick and his teammates after bursting onto the first-team stage. Barcelona's famed La Masia academy has developed numerous top talents over the decades.
Marca described Espart's performance against Athletic Club as a tactical and technical masterclass both with and without the ball. The paper noted that adapting to a position change had not hindered the teenager's impact and reported that he has firmly moved ahead of Balde in Barcelona's defensive hierarchy.
Managerial comparisons and Champions League debut
Espart made his senior debut for Barcelona in a European Champions League fixture against English Premier League side Newcastle United. Following that match, Flick compared the defender to former Bayern Munich and Germany captain Philipp Lahm, who was renowned for his tactical intelligence and versatility at full-back. Espart belongs to Barcelona's promising 2007 birth-year class alongside fellow teenage first-teamers Lamine Yamal, Pau Cubarsi, and Marc Bernal.
Speaking to reporters after the victory over Athletic Club, Flick said he was satisfied with what he had seen from the young defender. The former Bayern manager admitted he was slightly surprised by how well Espart performed at left-back, praising his constant focus, high technical quality, and defensive strength in one-on-one situations. Flick added that while he was very pleased with the player's progress, Espart still has areas to improve, as is true for all players in the squad.
First team progress and upcoming fixtures
Espart has now accumulated eight appearances for Barcelona's first team across all competitions. The 19-year-old could retain his spot in the starting line-up when Flick's side travel to face Madrid-based club Rayo Vallecano in La Liga on Monday at 9:30 p.m.
