Xavi Espart, Barcelona’s 18-year-old, was told to get ready during last week’s Champions League round-of-16 first leg at St James’ Park.
The match against Newcastle had been feverish, and Harvey Barnes’ strike looked to have sealed a famous win for the Premier League side.
Hansi Flick made an unexpected move in response.
Champions League Debut
Espart came on to replace Ronald Araujo, Barcelona’s captain, who looked exhausted and was out of position for Newcastle’s goal.
It was Espart’s first senior appearance.
He ended up with about nine minutes on the pitch, including stoppage time that allowed Lamine Yamal to level the tie at 1-1 with a 96th-minute equaliser.
Before that, he made two challenges in the penalty box, including a well-timed slide tackle on Joe Willock, and a determined block to win possession in midfield. There was enough there to ensure Barcelona fans would remember it. There’s no chance Espart will forget the experience, and all signs point to there being much more to come from him.
Espart left the pitch with a joyous smile on his face, geed up by Pau Cubarsi, a former La Masia team-mate he first played with back in 2018. Cubarsi, 19, has already made 118 Barca appearances.
Spain’s Champions League broadcasters and several other national media all wanted to speak with Espart. As soon as he finished press duties, Barca’s staff walked him out of the stadium, where another surprise was waiting.
Nobody was expecting Espart to make his debut, so the only member of his family that travelled to the game was his sister, and she only did so because she is spending this year studying in Manchester.
First Start Against Sevilla
Four days later, with Flick rotating his side for Sunday’s home La Liga match against Sevilla, Espart got his first Barca start and played the full 90 minutes.
It was another encouraging performance in a 5-2 victory.
Few are expecting Espart to be involved in the return leg against Newcastle at the Camp Nou later today, at least not as a starter, but from what we know already, he certainly has a big chance of progressing further under Flick this season.
La Masia Talent
Espart is another member of the outrageously talented generation of 2007-born players at La Masia — just like Yamal, Cubarsi, and Marc Bernal. They made their senior debuts at the ages of 15, 16 and 17 respectively. Espart, however, has developed a little more under the radar.
He joined Barca’s youth academy at the age of eight, back in 2015. He was born in Barcelona and played for local clubs CE Europa and Vilassar de Mar, before La Masia’s scouting network spotted him through Isidre Gil, the same scout who recommended Yamal.
His last year and a half at the club has been outstanding. He was fundamental in the treble won by