Nico Gonzalez, a question of state at FC Barcelona

"For me, the starting pivot always has to have sucked the La Masia teat." This is what Aureli Altimira, director of youth football at FC Barcelona from 2014 to 2021, told SPORT a couple of weeks ago. He knows a thing or two about the heart and soul of Barça's youth football.

 In addition, he has seen the growth and blossoming of players as profitable as Nico González. Or, somewhat more newly, Marc Casadó, Pau Prim, Dani Ávila, Marc Bernal and company. 

All forged in that position so associated with the essence of Barcelona football, which Sergio Busquets has raised to unknown levels. Almost unattainable. Busi' has been, at the same time, a perfect model and an infinite blockage.

Forcing the likes of Sergi Samper, Oriol Busquets, Oriol Romeu to leave and give up. And leaving in the abyss a Nico who is at that age when he is on the wire. Either he is already in or he will fly away, probably never to return.  

IN THE HANDS OF XAVI

From within Barcelona media, a kind of 'campaign' has been launched so that, instead of betting on a 'low cost' pivot or a patch signing from the unknown, Xavi decides to give Nico a chance. The Galician had to leave on loan to Valencia last summer after a conversation with the Catalan coach. 

Xavi has not hidden the fact that he does not see the Galician as a No 4, and believes he performs better as an interior. But coaches he has had at La Masia and Altimira himself say that he has been much more experienced in the pivot at all levels and that is where he can best exploit his qualities. It doesn't look like the player from Valles will let his arm be twisted.