The world has spotted the 16-year-old midfield talent Guille Fernandez, even though he has not yet made his debut for the first team.
La Masia is world famous for educating top footballers (see some information about that below), so when Guille Fernandez started to appear on the bench in both the Champions League and La Liga, big clubs started to follow.
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Bayern and Man City in battle for Fernandez
According to the Spanish newspaper Mundo Deportivo, several big clubs such as Bayern Munich, Borussia Dortmund, Manchester City and Porto are now showing interest in Fernandez. They could try to sign the youngster, who has previously mainly played for Barcelona’s U19 team.
Fernandez currently has a contract with Barcelona that runs until the summer of 2027.
La Masia – FC Barcelona’s famous talent center
La Masia, FC Barcelona’s academy, is known for fostering some of the world’s best footballers. Here are some famous players who have gone through the academy:
La Masia success stories:
- Lionel Messi – Considered one of the best players of all time. Joined Barcelona as a 13-year-old and became a legend at the club.
- Xavi Hernández & Andrés Iniesta – This midfield pair was the mastermind behind Barcelona and Spain’s dominance in the 2000s and 2010s.
- Pep Guardiola – Became a Barca legend as a player and later manager. Won the Champions League as a coach with a squad filled with La Masia products.
- Carles Puyol – The club’s former captain and one of the best defenders of all time.
- Gerard Piqué – Another Barca and Spain hero who started at La Masia before being brought back from Manchester United.
- Ansu Fati & Gavi – Recent examples of talents who have broken through to the first team.
Players who left early – but became stars:
- Cesc Fàbregas (Arsenal, Chelsea)
- Héctor Bellerín (Arsenal)
- Eric García (Manchester City, later returned to Barça)
- Adama Traoré (Wolves, Premier League)
Why is La Masia so successful?
- Focus on technique and ball control from a young age.
- Player development based on the “tiki-taka” philosophy.
- Strong connection to the club’s identity.
Although not everyone becomes a superstar, La Masia is one of the world’s most renowned football academies. Now, the club is keeping a close eye on Guille Fernandez to ensure he doesn’t become “the one who got away”.
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