La Masia has a history of producing stars, and Xavi has certainly not been shy of giving opportunities to up-and-coming players. Lamine Yamal, (16) Fermín López (20), and 19-year-old Gavi have become prominent members of the first team and have repaid their manager with their impressive performances.
Now, another star has emerged: Héctor Fort. With Barcelona already qualified for the last 16 of the Champions League, Xavi took the opportunity to rest some of his starters. A player who benefited from this was 17-year-old Fort. The full-back, who had previously made substitute appearances in La Liga against Real Madrid and Athletic Club, was given his first start for the Catalan club in their Champions League game against Royal Antwerp. Fort, believed to be one of Barcelona’s future stars, played a total of 60 minutes in his team’s 3-2 loss to the Belgian side. While Vincent Janssen caused him problems, Fort did have some impressive moments, as highlighted by Marca, and we can expect to see the youngster making more appearances in the future.
Characteristics
As well as his height, standing at over six feet, the full-back, who has also played as a centre-back at youth level, stands out for his speed, agility, and tactical nous. Fort, who is contracted until 2025, is a prominent player at Barcelona Atlétic, the club’s second team managed by Rafa Márquez. He has featured in ten games and has been a starter in all of them, picking up a goal and an assist.
The full-back position has been a constant headache for Xavi this season, and a string of impressive performances could mean Fort will start to feature more often.
GSFN | Finn Entwistle
