While several teams have proud records of blooding academy products, Barcelona were able to field a team consisting entirely of La Masia graduates in November 2012.
After Martin Montoya replaced an injured Dani Alves in the 14th minute of a 4-0 victory at Levante, Barca had an entirely homegrown team for the first time in their history.
We’ve taken a look back at their side from that day to see how those players have fared since.
GK: Victor Valdes
After leaving Barcelona in 2014, Valdes had a brief stint in England with Manchester United and Middlesbrough before hanging up his gloves.
The 40-year-old then began a career in coaching and returned to Barcelona as their Under-19s manager in 2019 but was sacked after just 80 days in charge.
Valdes then spent a few months in charge of Spanish fourth division side UA Horte, before leaving his post in March 2021. He then reportedly rejected an offer from president Joan Laporta to return as a goalkeeping coach.
RB: Martin Montoya
Montoya was unable to usurp Dani Alves on a regular basis and joined Valencia in 2016 following the expiration of his contract with Barcelona.
The right-back spent two years at the Mestalla before moving to the Premier League with Brighton in 2018.
He made 56 appearances for the Seagulls but eventually fell behind Tariq Lamptey in the pecking order and returned to Spain with Real Betis in 2020.
CB: Gerard Pique
Pique has remained an ever-present at the heart of the Barcelona defence and has since notched up over 600 appearances for the club. Only four players have made more – all of them in this team.
🔵🔴 Gerard Piqué = defender that revolutionised the role of the centre-back in modern football…@FCBarcelona | #UCL pic.twitter.com/DwPGg3ch0I
— UEFA Champions League (@ChampionsLeague) August 6, 2020
CB: Carles Puyol
Puyol eventually hung up his boots at the end of the 2013-14 season, having won 18 titles during his 15-year career in the Barcelona first team.
He initially stayed on with the club and was appointed as their assistant director of football but resigned a few months later.
The 44-year-old now runs an agency alongside fellow La Masia graduate Ivan de la Pena and rejected an offer to become Barcelona’s sporting director in 2019. A return to the club, to work alongside Xavi and Laporta in some capacity, has been rumoured – but nothing is yet confirmed.
READ: Ranking Barcelona’s club captains since 1997 from worst to best
LB: Jordi…
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