17-year-old Barcelona academy gem set for La Liga debut against Villarreal – report

There is a lot of retrospection that the Barcelona management need to put in place after the team’s 4-2 defeat to Athletic Club at San Mames. However, the game did not come without its own silver lining.

One of the key positives that Barcelona left the field with on the night was the reassurance that their future was in safe hands. After all, the team had three teenage stars on the field at one point, all of whom were dishing out gargantuan performances.

Hector Fort – the unexpected star

Hector Fort, Barcelona’s homegrown right-back talent, has been in the first-team dynamics for a while now. However, he was not as glorified as some of his peers, thus making his performance against the Basque side more memorable.

And now, according to reports from SPORT, Fort is set to be rewarded for his impressive debut at the highest level.

Indeed, Fort will start for Barcelona against Villarreal on Saturday at right-back, with Joao Cancelo expected to take over on the left. It will be a special occasion for the youngster as it will be his debut in La Liga.

Fort, 17, was called off the bench early in the game against Athletic Club after Alejandro Balde went down injured.

He featured in over 90 minutes of action for Barcelona as the game went into extra time, effectively stopping Nico Williams and Inaki Williams and leaving his heart and soul on the field.

It is safe to say that the youngster played with maturity beyond his years, and his comfort on the ball made his position on the field appear very deserved. The fact that he played out of position at left-back only amplifies his performance.

Crucial months ahead

Balde’s hamstring injury has turned out worse than initially anticipated. The player is set to undergo surgery and will miss the remainder of the season through recovery.

Further, Marcos Alonso himself is recovering from a surgical procedure and will not be available at Xavi’s disposal for at least another month.

Hector Fort and Joao Cancelo, thus, emerge as the manager’s top and only options to cover the full-back positions. Needless to say, the coming months will hold several chances in store for the teenage star to prove his worth and establish his name.