Hansi Flick's New Midfield Star: Xavi Espart from La Masia
FC Barcelona might not have announced a new signing, but Hansi Flick has effectively added a fresh midfielder to his 2026/27 squad. He did it the Barcelona way: by turning to La Masia.
The champions begin their La Liga title defence on Sunday night with an away trip to Elche, a late 21:30 kick-off that will quietly mark the start of a new chapter for one of their brightest academy products.
From La Masia’s Class of 2007 to the First Team
Last season, as Barca retained their La Liga crown, Flick dipped again into the academy’s gifted Class of 2007. Lamine Yamal, Pau Cubarsi and Marc Bernal had already blazed the trail. Xavi Espart followed.
He realised the dream shared by millions of youngsters, pulling on the Barcelona shirt for his senior debut. Technically, it was the orange away kit of that era, still in use during preseason, but the badge was the same and the stakes were high.
His first taste of top-level action came in the Champions League, thrown on late in a 1-1 draw at Newcastle United in the last 16 first leg. A hostile ground, a tight scoreline, and a teenager trusted on that stage. It said plenty about what Flick saw in him.
Espart finished the 2025/26 campaign with six appearances, used primarily in defence but always with a murmur around the club: this kid might actually belong in midfield.
Flick’s Lahm Comparison Comes To Life
Those whispers had roots. At La Masia, Espart grew up operating in midfield, dictating games rather than just patrolling a flank. Flick quickly recognised the same versatility that once allowed him to reshape Philip Lahm’s role at Bayern.
The comparison was not about status, but about profile: a player intelligent enough, technical enough and tactically sharp enough to excel both at full-back and in the middle of the pitch.
This summer, that idea has hardened into reality. During preseason, Espart has been used exclusively in midfield. At right-back, Eric Garcia now looks firmly established, pushing Jules Kounde and closing off that route for the youngster. The message is clear: Espart’s future, at least for now, lies in the centre of the pitch.
Preseason Statement Performances
The shift has looked natural. Culers took notice.
In a 5-2 away win over Basel last Sunday, Espart impressed with his composure and energy between the lines, knitting play and pressing with the intensity Flick demands. The performance felt like a small audition for a much bigger role.
Then came the Gamper Trophy against Al Ahly. Barcelona won 2-1, and Espart came within a few inches of capping his display with a goal, denied only by a block near the line. It was the kind of action that sticks in a coach’s mind: a midfielder arriving in the box with conviction, almost deciding the game.
Those outings did more than just showcase potential. They hinted that Flick’s “new” midfielder is ready for competitive minutes now.
Elche Opener: Door Opens For Espart
Barcelona’s start to the season has been nudged back slightly, as with Real Madrid, due to the heavy World Cup involvement of their players. That delay ends on Sunday night in Elche.
Pedri is still not fit. New signing Rodri is also unavailable. Suddenly, the pathway for Xavi Espart is wide open.
Flick could turn to the academy again, pairing Espart with his fellow 2007 graduates. Lamine Yamal is already a star. Marc Bernal has forced his way into the rotation. The question is whether Espart now joins them from the first whistle.
Pau Cubarsi adds another twist. The World Cup’s Best Young Player did not feature in the Gamper, raising doubts over his readiness or suggesting Flick simply chose to protect him. Either way, his status affects how bold the coach can be with his line-up.
Yet the prospect grows more realistic by the day: all four of Barca’s Class of 2007 talents starting together in a competitive match.
For Barcelona and for La Masia, that would be more than a nice story. It would be a statement about where this era is heading – and about how a club that once defined itself by its academy might be ready to let the next generation run the show again.
