Barcelona’s head coach, Xavi, extended a call-up to a seldom-seen member of the club’s youth ranks at the Ciutat Esportiva Joan Gamper on Monday. This decision follows Barcelona’s recent commendable performance against Atlético Madrid, where they secured a decisive victory with a three-nil scoreline.
Following the departure of several key players for international duties and the absence of others such as Frenkie de Jong, Pedri, and Gavi due to injury, Xavi opted to integrate several emerging academy talents into the training session to bolster the squad.
Among these talents were Ander Astralaga, Diego Kochen, and Marc Casadó, with Casadó notably fresh from his recent debut for Barcelona’s senior team. Additionally, as reported by Mundo Deportivo, Jaume Cuéllar, a relatively unfamiliar face, was included in the training session.
Cuéllar, a 22-year-old winger currently on loan from Lugo, has been honing his skills with Barcelona Atlètic under Rafa Márquez’s guidance this season. Despite soon departing for international commitments himself, Cuéllar seized the opportunity on Monday to showcase his abilities alongside the club’s senior players, having recently contributed with an assist in a 4-2 victory over the weekend.