Barcelona youngster Xavi Espart has pledged to keep giving everything he has to earn a permanent place in Hansi Flick's first team after another eye-catching pre-season performance.

The 19-year-old shone in Sunday's 5-2 win over FC Basel, impressing in a midfield role and staking a real claim ahead of the start of the new season. Espart, who has also featured at right-back for Barcelona, insisted he has no problem switching positions to fit the team's needs.

"I'm comfortable because I'm used to playing in this position. I played centrally in the European Championship, and my teammates next to me make it quite easy. I'm really looking forward to enjoying it. Since returning from the European Championship, I've tried to be 100% here and show that I can be here and that my game is good,"

Espart told reporters that he remains focused on proving himself day by day, while also expressing his hope of featuring in Barcelona's upcoming match in Elche.

"For now, I'm happy, but football is a day-by-day thing, and I'll keep giving 100% to stay here. I hope I can play in Elche, but you never know in football. I take it one game at a time and one training session at a time. I prefer to think that way and always give 100%."

The teenager is under no illusions about the scale of the challenge. Breaking into Barcelona's first team is hard enough, but staying there is even harder given the intense competition for places and the exacting standards demanded by Flick and his coaching staff.

"It's very difficult to get there, but what's really hard is staying there because of the demands placed on these players. In the end, it's Barça, the best team in the world, and the demands are every day; you can never let up. It's every day with enthusiasm and working to the utmost,"

Espart also noted the positive atmosphere within the squad, with players returning from the World Cup bringing renewed energy alongside those who have been in pre-season training for several weeks.

"Those who have returned from the World Cup are very eager, as are those of us who have been here for three or four weeks. Everyone is focused on facing the match and then the league at the weekend with great enthusiasm, because this season we will be at our best."

It looks increasingly likely that Espart will feature prominently in the new campaign. Flick is a well-known admirer of the youngster, having memorably said last season that Espart reminds him of Germany legend Philipp Lahm — high praise indeed for a player still in his teens.