WHAT HAPPENED TO BARCELONA'S LUKA MODRIC? 🤯

WHAT HAPPENED TO BARCELONA'S LUKA MODRIC? 🤯

La Masia is overloaded with Talent!

Sometimes, it’s so full of incredible potential that not all the amazing talents find a spot in the first team!

The 2007 generation is considered the strongest in recent years. From this age group alone, three gems of La Masia have already made their mark in Barcelona's first team: Lamine Yamal, Pau Cubarsi, and Marc Bernal.

Absolutely phenomenal!

But that’s not all: another player from this generation, Landry Farre, is on the rise. He occasionally trains with the first team, and his physical attributes could soon secure him a long-term contract. Currently, Landry plays for the U-19 team and Barca Atletic.

Barcelona's management expected this generation to produce even more top-tier players for the first team, as it also included other exceptional talents like Shane Kluivert and David Saez.

While Shane is still being nurtured and plays for Juvenil B (Barcelona’s fourth-tier team after Juvenil A, Barca Atletic, and the first team), giving him a chance to impress, David Saez’s story is far more complicated.

"David Saez was the best player of that team — 10 times better than Lamine!" fans comment under posts about this generation.

He was Dubbed the “Barcelona’s Luka Modric” or the “new Ivan Rakitic” - all because of his "Croatian" appearance and a playing style reminiscent of these global football stars.

As a former team captain, David was once predicted to have a brilliant future at Barca. At one point, he was the standout talent of his generation. But something went wrong, and we’ve uncovered the shocking reasons behind the fall of one of La Masia’s brightest talents.

While Lamine Yamal and Pau Cubarsi are now established Barca stars, and Marc Bernal is making steady progress, David Saez doesn’t even have a contract with the club anymore and has left Barcelona.

On the 1st of July, 2023, Barcelona announced the departure of the 16-year-old midfielder. The club chose not to offer him a new contract, and he left as a free agent to join another Catalan team, CF Damm, which has a reputation for nurturing young talent. Interestingly, Barca has previously welcomed players back via the Damm route, such as Marc Casado.

David had an emotional farewell:

"It’s time to say goodbye! Thank you, Barcelona, for the opportunity to be part of this great family! I joined the club at the age of 7, and it’s been nine years of learning and unforgettable memories. Thanks to everyone who supported and taught me — coaches, teammates, and staff. Now, new challenges await, and I’m ready to give my all. Thank you, everyone!"

It’s evident that the boy didn’t want to part ways with Barça. He had much to offer the team and was ready to continue his development, but the club’s management had a different perspective regarding David.

The reason is simple – weak physical attributes. Despite his immense potential, David Saez’s physical attributes became a concern. Compared to his peers, he struggled with the physical demands of competitive football. This was evident during the 2021/22 season when opponents appeared almost twice his size. While Lamine Yamal, Pau Cubarsi, and Marc Bernal improved physically year by year, Saez’s development stagnated.

He went from being a standout talent in youth football to struggling in the U-16 level, even losing his spot in Cadete B. Despite occasional flashes of brilliance, his overall performance was unconvincing, and it seemed like his growth had stalled.

David Saez's case is paradoxical and somewhat unusual for Barcelona, as this player has the ability to create magic on the football field — just look at this pass!

Saez’s case is paradoxical. Barcelona often embraces smaller players — look at Casado (1.72m), Gavi (1.73m), and Pedri (1.74m), who regularly play in midfield. And who could forget Lionel Messi, one of the greatest footballers in history, standing at just 1.70m?

So why did Barca let Saez go?

Local media outlets like Mundo Deportivo noted his departure as “surprising,” but no official explanation has been given. One theory is positional versatility: Saez could only play in midfield, unlike others who could adapt to multiple roles. Great examples are Casado, Gavi, Pedri, Fermin and Olmo.

Competition in Barcelona’s midfield is fierce: Casado, Bernal, Gavi, Pedri, Frenki, Fermin, Olmo, Raphinha, Christensen, Garcia, Pau Prim, and more — all 11 players competing for just three spots. Barca produces an abundance of high-quality midfielders every year, making it tough for players like Saez to secure their place.

Saez might find inspiration in Fermin Lopez, another player overlooked for his physical limitations.

Fermin rediscovered his form while on loan at Linares, earning a spot in Barca’s first team and helping Spain win Olympic gold.

What do you think — was letting David Saez go was a mistake? Let us know in the comments!