After the debut of Xavi Espart with the first team of FC Barcelona in the Champions League match against Newcastle United, another La Masia prospect is starting to gain attention within Hansi Flick’s squad.
The player is Álvaro Cortés, one of the most promising centre-backs coming through La Masia.
According to Sport, both Espart and Cortés have trained again with the first team and are expected to be included in the squad for the match against Sevilla FC. This opens the door for the young defender to potentially make his debut in the coming days.
A centre-back with huge potential
Álvaro Cortés is a right-footed centre-back developed at La Masia and has long been considered one of the most promising defenders in Barcelona’s academy.
He stands out for his defensive solidity, strong reading of the game and ability to play out from the back — qualities that are highly valued in Barça’s football philosophy.
Cortés also has a strong physical presence and good aerial ability, making him a well-rounded defender for his age. Throughout the youth levels he has consistently been one of the most reliable centre-backs in the academy.
A key player for Barça Atlètic
This season Cortés has been a regular player for Barça Atlètic, where he has gained important experience competing in Primera Federación.
His performances with the reserve team have caught the attention of the first-team coaching staff, who have already invited him to train with the senior squad on several occasions.
Within the club, it is believed that competing at such a demanding level has accelerated his development.
Flick turns to La Masia due to injuries
Cortés’ presence in first-team training is also explained by Barcelona’s defensive problems in recent weeks.
Injuries to several key players have forced Flick to look toward La Masia to complete the squad.
In that context, the German coach has already given opportunities to young talents like Xavi Espart, who made his Champions League debut at St James’
Park, and Cortés could now be next in line.
His opportunity may be very close
If he is finally included in the squad against Sevilla, Álvaro Cortés could be very close to fulfilling the dream of debuting for Barcelona’s first team.
The club continues to rely heavily on its academy as a foundation of the sporting project, and everything suggests that another La Masia gem could soon take the step into professional football.
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