Barca complacent on La Masia – Xavi

Former Barcelona captain Xavi Hernandez believes the club have become ‘complacent’ over their attitude to developing youth players.

The last several years have seen a decline in the number of Barca youth graduates through their famed La Masia system promoted to the first team, with 25-year-old Sergi Roberto the only recent success story.

"I think, in general, Barca became a bit complacent," Xavi is quoted as telling The Tactical Room by ESPN.

"I'm sure people thought: 'There's Puyol, Iniesta, Messi, Valdes, Pique, Pedro and Busquets coming though. This is all going well. Surely every two years or so more players will come through, too.'

"But it's not like that, that's not how things work. I learned to play in La Masia, not in the first team. The academy coaches have to develop players, they have to teach.

“Winning youth leagues doesn't matter. You have to form players at that age. If you win, good, but it's not the objective.”

Tags Xavi Hernandez
La Liga - Club News