FC Barcelona’s 2007-born generation keeps producing first-team talent, and the latest name to force his way into the conversation is Xavi Espart. The 19-year-old La Masia graduate started both of Barça’s opening LaLiga fixtures this season, against Elche and Athletic Club, playing the full 90 minutes in each and wearing squad number 12 for the first time in the latter, a detail MARCA presents as confirmation that he has arrived in Hansi Flick’s first team to stay.
As MARCA has reported, Espart’s performances have left Flick and his teammates astonished, with the Catalan outlet framing La Masia and the Spotify Camp Nou as having found another star to sit alongside Lamine Yamal, Marc Bernal and the club’s 2007 cohort.
Flick deployed Espart on the left flank against Athletic despite his background as a right-back and defensive midfielder, with João Cancelo available but left on the bench and Alejandro Balde now reportedly behind him in the pecking order. According to MARCA, Espart’s tactical intelligence, composure, positioning and ball-progression ability stood out, and he tested Unai Simón in the 59th minute while whipping in several dangerous crosses, combining well with Anthony Gordon and Raphinha and picking up a tactical foul defending against Iñaki Williams.
Flick handed Espart his senior debut last March in the Champions League against Newcastle, and he made six appearances that season with limited minutes before a strong pre-season convinced the German coach to start him in both league openers. MARCA notes that Flick had previously likened Espart to Philipp Lahm, and the youngster now has eight senior appearances split between right-back, left-back and a single outing as a pivot.
Flick praised Espart’s technical level, composure and defensive discipline after the Athletic win, while Joan García called his performance exceptional and Pau Cubarsí highlighted his ability to play both full-back and midfield, noting the pair grew up together in the academy alongside Bernal and Lamine.
Espart is under contract at Barcelona until June 2028, and his positional range across right-back, left-back, pivot and wide areas gives Flick genuine tactical flexibility as the 2007 generation continues to shape the first-team squad.
