La Masia teenager who has been compared to Philipp Lahm made his first appearance for the club away at Newcastle
The big moment for 18-year-old Xavi Espart, Barcelona’s latest La Masia graduate, came during the Champions League game away at Newcastle. The Premier League side had pushed hard all game and finally took the lead late on. It looked like Barcelona would leave with nothing.
Hansi Flick turned to his bench and called for Espart to replace Ronald Araujo, needing fresh legs. It was the first-ever senior appearance for the teenager, who can play both at full-back and in defensive midfield.
Espart had only nine minutes of football to play and Barcelona were under pressure at a hostile away ground. But instead of being nervous, he played with calm and focus. The youngster made important defensive actions, including an important tackle inside the box to deny Newcastle’s rampaging Joe Willock.
In such a short time and a tough ground, he showed something special. People around him would say they know he’s capable of that and more. Soon after, Barcelona found their equaliser through Lamine Yamal deep into stoppage time. The match ended 1-1, but for many fans, Espart’s debut was just as memorable as the goal.
Xavi Espart: ❝I really wanted this, dut it doesn’t end here; I have to keep working and hopefully more chances will come. ❞ pic.twitter.com/ZrIFg5Mmd4
— FC Barcelona (@FCBarcelona) March 12, 2026
Just a few days later, Espart was given his first full debut in the league game against Sevilla, which Barcelona won 5-2. This time, he played the full match and helped Barcelona win comfortably.
Espart is part of a new generation of young players coming through Barcelona’s youth system. Some, like Yamal, have been famous since they were very young. Others, like Espart, have taken a quieter path. He has worked his way up step by step, showing steady progress before breaking into the first team.
People who know the 18-year-old say he is very mature for his age. That maturity was clear during both matches against Newcastle and Sevilla. Inside the team, Espart has already earned respect and there is strong support around him.
One of the first people to celebrate with him after his first game for Barcelona at St James’ Park was his former youth teammate Pau Cubarsi, who became a regular in the first team ahead of him. Hansi Flick has said Espart reminds him of Philipp Lahm because of his calmness on the ball. The German coach would know.
It is still early days, but the signs are promising for Espart.
