Absolutely they’ll’t preserve getting away with it?! Do Barcelona even have all one of the best younger midfielders in Spain of their academy? Guillermo Fernandez’s emergence lends credence to that outlandish idea.
The 15-year-old central midfielder has damaged Lamine Yamal’s report for being the youngest participant to ever debut for his or her B staff along with his look in opposition to Osasuna B.
He debuted on the age of 15 years, 9 months, and 12 days, surpassing Yamal’s debut age by 11 days. Contemplating the heights Yamal has climbed to since that fateful debut, it’s truthful to say that the expectations are excessive for Fernandez.
Who’s Guillermo Fernandez?
Guillermo Fernandez is a 15-year-old Central Midfielder who performs for Barcelona’s U18s and now their B staff. He joined Los Cules on the age of 10 from rivals Espanyol in 2018. So fast was his rise that solely his younger age left the coaches unable to advertise him too shortly too quickly.
By 2023, he was already on tour with the U18s aspect. His head-to-head with Yamal’s development continued, as he turned Barcelona’s second-youngest participant to debut within the UEFA Youth League solely after, you guessed it, Yamal.
1️⃣5️⃣ años, 9️⃣ meses y 1️⃣3️⃣ días…
👦🔝 ¡¡Guille Fernández es el 𝗝𝗨𝗚𝗔𝗗𝗢𝗥 𝗠𝗔́𝗦 𝗝𝗢𝗩𝗘𝗡 𝗘𝗡 𝗗𝗘𝗕𝗨𝗧𝗔𝗥 en #PrimeraFederación!!
Supera a:
▪️ Lamine Yamal: 15 años, 9 meses y 23 días.▪️ Marc Bernal: 16 años, 3 meses y 1 día.
🔎 𝗗𝗔𝗧𝗢: @Peter26582 pic.twitter.com/m7GgMqhY1I
— Primera Federación (@Primera_RFEF) April 1, 2024
He made his debut for Spain U17s in October of 2023 and after 9 caps, already stands at six targets, exhibiting simply how above his age stage his expertise is already at.
This was shortly seen by Xavi and co., and at simply 15, he was coaching with the primary staff earlier than the tip of 2023 alongside his La Masia colleague Pau Cubarsi, who, by then, had already grow to be a valued member of the primary staff.
Guillermo Fernandez enjoying model
It seems like there’s a particular part one can “tick” with regards to analysing a La Masia midfield graduate however let’s do it anyway.
Fernandez is extraordinarily adept with the ball and matches like a glove in a possession-based staff. He has unbelievable imaginative and prescient for his age and all the time appears like he has a number of time on the ball even when he’s rushed. That’s a top quality that may stand him in nice stead when he finally makes the step as much as the senior staff.
Bodily, he stands at simply 5’6″ proper now however with not less than three years of rising nonetheless to do, something above 5’8″ or so will profit him. Nevertheless, physicality is the least of his considerations because the likes of Pedri and Gavi have proven so long as the standard on the ball is elite.
One factor that does separate him from a “conventional Barcelona midfielder” in a optimistic sense is his scent of the aim. The best way he crashes the field to be on the finish of cutbacks from both wing reminds considered one of Frank Lampard. His late arrival on the fringe of the field after the defensive position is already deep to defend crosses is a giant plus. Six targets in 9 appearances for the Spain U17s speaks volumes about this scent of the aim.
It is usually why he has been trialled additional ahead as an attacking midfielder. His ball management in shut areas mixed along with his sense of aim has made him a superb choice there. Nevertheless, if his physique stays slight, then maybe it might be greatest served if he began from deep and creates overloads within the attacking section when the chance arrives.
Future at FC Barcelona
It’s troublesome to foretell the way forward for any participant at a membership whose head coach is leaving on the finish of the season, not to mention a 15-year-old who has simply made his debut for the B staff.
Having stated that, it’s unimaginable to not see Fernandez be concerned with the senior staff in not less than some capability when pre-season rolls round in the summertime and he’s 16.
No matter who the following coach is, some issues are non-negotiable for a Barcelona supervisor and a type of is trusting La Masia. That’s one thing that may work in Guillermo Fernandez’s favour. He’s already coaching with the primary staff and it’s not unimaginable that he makes his senior debut this season. The Champions League is the place Barcelona’s season hangs since they don’t seem to be successful La Liga and Champions League qualification within the league is just about sealed.
Due to this fact, Xavi would possibly select to area the teenager close to the tip of the league season. If Xavi provides Fernandez as one other reward to the following supervisor of the membership, his legacy might be fortified much more as the person who won’t have saved up with the pressures of the job, however set the membership up properly for the following decade-and-a-half.
Anticipate Guillermo Fernandez to steer that subsequent crop of gamers, some assertion to say when this appears like a golden era of gamers coming by.
