Hopefully this will put him off joining the Barca youth
https://talksport.com/football/564794/barcelona-la-masia-academy-lionel-messi-pique-decline/Barcelona’s world famous academy, La Masia, is in a serious state of decline, according to reports.
The academy has a rich history when it comes to bringing through talent and has produced some of the best players in history.
Messi is a famous product of the La Masia academy and is arguably the greatest player to ever play for the club’s first team, but where will the next Messi come from? It won’t be La Masia, according to recent reports
Names such as Lionel Messi, Xavi, Andres Iniesta, Carles Puyol, Gerard Pique, Sergio Busquets, Pedro and Victor Valdes have gone on to be huge successes for Barcelona.
However, in recent seasons, the club has failed to blood talent of that world class calibre, with perhaps Sergi Roberto being the last notable player to feature in the first team.
But his debut for the Catalan giants came in 2013 and that means it is six years since a a graduate of note has made the step up.
Ara journalist Xavi Torres has outlined reasons for the decline and has explained exactly why La Masia is ‘sick.’
Torres explains why Barca president Josep Maria Bartomeu’s ‘Masia 360’ strategy has been a spectacular failure, saying he put the wrong people in charge, which cost the club a lot of money.
It also highlights how many of the players in the academy are loanees and the coaches in charge, do not understand the Barcelona philosophy, while the food is said to fall below the lowest nutritional standards.
La Masia's demise
- Of the 48 football players who live in La Masia right now, most of them are loanees and reserves
- Rooms meant to accomodate the players have been turned into offices and there is no longer a gym and the swimming tracks are out of bounds
- An audio visual room where the players studied football matches and spent time together has also been converted into a room for staff
- La Masia does not meet the lowest nutrition standards required
- The coaches employed do not have an understanding of the club’s philosophy which is refered to the ‘Barca DNA’
- Tutors do not think tutoring the players is necessary, with many saying what the teacher wants to hear in order to leave the sessions early
- According to La Masia officials 40-50 cases (serious illnesses of family members, separation of parents, economic problems etc) happen every year