ไทย
English
中國人
Barcelona are navigating a serious defensive injury crisis that Hansi Flick has acknowledged will require the club to call up young La Masia prospects who could feature for the first team in the coming fixtures.
The Catalan side watched their impressive start to the season unravel last week, suffering back-to-back losses for the first time since February in their toughest tests of the campaign so far, against Paris Saint-Germain and Real Madrid.
Compounding the problem, Barcelona lost three defenders to injury within just eight days. Eric García, Jules Koundé and Xavi Espart have all been sidelined, joining center back Andreas Christensen in the medical room.
As a result, Flick has only four defenders with senior team experience available to him in João Cancelo, Gerard Martín, Alejandro Balde and Pau Cubarsí.
The club faced a comparable situation last spring when fullback injuries prompted Flick to hand Espart his senior debut. The German manager has shown no hesitation in turning to untested La Masia players during his time in charge, and with the January transfer window still months away, Flick will once again be compelled to do so.
Simply put, Barcelona are in desperate need of defensive reinforcements, and there are four La Masia talents who could potentially help ease the Blaugrana's injury woes.
Hafiz Gariba
Hafiz Gariba may be a largely unfamiliar name in the football world, but Barcelona believe they have unearthed a hidden gem in the 19-year-old Ghanaian.
Barcelona pipped Real Madrid to sign the center back at the beginning of 2025, after he was initially spotted by a Spanish development academy during a trial held in Ghana. He has since worked his way up through La Masia and is now a cornerstone of the defense for Barça Atlétic, helping the B team sit at the top of Spain's fourth division standings.
Gariba is renowned for his exceptional pace, which enables him to excel in covering open space and recovering when other defenders have been beaten — qualities that are vital in Flick's defensive setup.
The teenager trained under Flick at the beginning of preseason, though an illness kept him from joining Barcelona's preseason tour in the United Kingdom. He has since returned to full fitness, and while he is not registered for Champions League duty, Gariba could be considered for La Liga appearances.
Guillem Víctor
If Flick is looking for another Espart, then promoting fellow versatile fullback Guillem Víctor is the most logical solution.
The 19-year-old could become the second member of the Víctor family to make his debut for Barcelona under Flick, following in the steps of his brother Pau, who appeared during the German's first season and is currently on the books at Braga in Portugal.
Víctor has spent a decade at La Masia and was part of the U-19 squad that claimed a historic treble in 2024–25, winning the league, the Copa del Rey and Barça's third Youth League crown. He has since started all but one match at right back for Barça Atlétic this season.
Like many La Masia graduates, Víctor is celebrated for his adaptability, having operated in virtually every position on the pitch throughout his academy career. He embodies the hallmarks of a classic Barcelona player, with the club's philosophy deeply ingrained in his game.
Like Espart, Cubarsí, Marc Bernal and Lamine Yamal, Víctor belongs to Barcelona's celebrated 2007 generation. Having trained with the first team during the week, it would come as little surprise if he earns a place in the matchday squad against Alavés on Saturday.
Álex Campos
Álex Campos is the anchor of Barça Atlétic's defensive line and has been on the verge of a senior debut over the past week, having appeared on the bench against both PSG and Real Madrid.
Born in 2008, Campos skipped an age group to join Barça Atlétic at just 16. Two seasons on, the imposing defender has built an outstanding partnership with Gariba, and Juliano Belletti's side has conceded only four goals across eight games this season. The only defeat Barça Atlétic suffered came at the weekend when Campos was away with the first team for El Clásico.
Having joined La Masia in 2021, Campos signed a contract extension this summer tying him to Barcelona until 2029. Like most Barça academy defenders, his composure on the ball is among his greatest strengths, as is his aerial ability. Comparisons are always tricky, but according to AS, many within the club regard him as "Cubarsí's clone."
Campos has divided his time this season between training under Flick and featuring for the B team, and after being included in the first team's squad on a couple of occasions, a senior debut appears to be just around the corner for the exciting 18-year-old.
Brian Fariñas
If Flick is set to hand a La Masia talent their debut in the near future, then the frontrunner to be next in line is 20-year-old Brian Fariñas.
Fariñas is yet another addition to the long line of archetypal Barcelona midfielders to have come through La Masia's system. He is an intelligent, technically polished player capable of orchestrating play from deep, while also possessing the tactical flexibility to function in multiple areas of the pitch. His profile mirrors that of Espart, who also spent the majority of his La Masia career as a midfielder.
"Yes, [Fariñas] could also be an option to play on this side," Flick said ahead of the match against Alavés, when asked whether Fariñas could fill in at fullback. "Brian is a very intelligent player and he's now training with us from the beginning of the season, and he's also making a fantastic job. I think also it's the time ... He deserves to play."
After nine years in La Masia, Fariñas featured in all six of Barcelona's preseason matches and was registered as a first team player, taking on the No. 4 shirt previously worn by former captain Ronald Araújo.
He has been an unused substitute in nine of Barça's first 13 league games this season, and it feels like only a matter of time before he makes his long-awaited senior debut.