Less than a week away from their first La Liga game, Xavi Espart seems to have already earned his place in FC Barcelona’s first-team squad for the 2026-27 season.
Indeed, according to Mundo Deportivo, the 19-year-old La Masia gem could become a fully fledged first-team player, taking the place that Marc Casado is expected to leave vacant.
A versatile replacement for Casado
Espart started the friendly against FC Basel this past weekend, which ended in a 2-5 Barça victory, and played 79 minutes.
He initially lined up as a pivot midfielder alongside Marc Bernal before moving into an interior role.
In the triangular tournament in Udine, meanwhile, he played at right-back, showing a level of maturity beyond his years in every position he occupied.
Casado will leave Barcelona. (Photo by Angel Martinez/Getty Images)
Given how he has progressed in recent weeks, Espart is now expected to take the squad place that Casado is set to leave vacant.
The homegrown midfielder’s No. 17 shirt has already become vacant on La Liga’s website as he works toward completing his departure, potentially to Saudi Arabia, with Barcelona already having a readymade replacement.
Espart’s rise comes at a particularly important moment for Barça. The academy graduate has demonstrated that he can contribute in midfield as well as at right-back, giving Hansi Flick another versatile option within the first-team squad.
Back in training
Barcelona will take on Al Ahly in the Joan Gamper Trophy on Wednesday evening at the Spotify Camp Nou. Come the weekend, they will begin their La Liga campaign away against Elche.
A first-team berth awaits Espart. (Photo by Timothy Rogers/Getty Images)
And, it will not come as a surprise to see Espart play an important role in those matches.
The 19-year-old starlet returned to training today after being granted a rest by manager Flick on Monday. He worked normally with the rest of the group as preparations continued for the Gamper Trophy match.
It will be interesting to see if the La Masia sensation starts against Al Ahly, and in case he does, whether it is as a midfielder or at right-back.
What appears clear is that Espart will have a bigger role in the first-team dynamics in the new season.