Antonio Conte hails Barcelona’s La Masia as ‘extraordinary’

Conte praises Barcelona’s academy structure

Antonio Conte has praised Barcelona’s La Masia academy, saying the club is doing “something extraordinary” by bringing young players into the first team and helping them perform with assurance.

In an interview with The Athletic, cited by Mundo Deportivo, the Italian coach said seeing academy graduates aged 18 integrate naturally into a side playing before large crowds showed the work taking place behind the scenes. He added that the academy and first team appeared to be working “in perfect harmony.”

Xavi Espart caught Conte’s attention

Conte said he would like to visit Barcelona’s youth academy and pointed to left-back Xavi Espart as an example of the club’s pathway. He recalled watching a Barcelona match and hearing about a player whose previous season had consisted of only a handful of brief appearances, yet who was then able to start with striking ease.

The source report also highlighted the contributions of La Masia graduates Pau Cubarsí, Fermín López, Lamine Yamal and Espart during Barcelona’s strong early-season run. Conte’s remarks focused on the academy’s structure and the way its young players are prepared to step into the senior team.