20-year-old Barcelona academy prospect makes long-awaited return to first-team training | OneFootball

FC Barcelona have such a blessed academy that has been producing top-tier talents in recent times. The flip side of so many talents emerging is that there is a chance for some of them to get lost in certain circumstances.

One La Masia talent who was very highly talented and highly rated was Aleix Garrido. The 20-year-old used to train extensively under Xavi Hernandez but injuries have prevented him from developing over the past 12 months.

Now, as per SPORT, Garrido has made his long-awaited return to first-team training. The last time the 20-year-old participated in training with the senior team was on November 22, 2023. Now, he is finally able to see the light at the end of the tunnel.

Garrido has since undergone surgery on his fifth metatarsal and made his season debut last weekend, playing for Barcelona Atletic against Amorebieta. The club is exercising extreme caution with him considering the struggles he has gone through.

Until now, Garrido has made it to seven first-team squad rosters. He has already made his official first-team debut, coming on for Ansu Fati vs Elche on April 1, 2023, in a memorable 4-0 win for Barcelona and surely, a memorable moment for the 20-year-old.

Hansi Flick’s decision to call him up to the squad at the earliest opportunity shows the trust that he has in the youngster. It must be a huge boost of confidence for the player that injuries haven’t changed their perspective on him.

It remains to be seen how long it takes before Garrido makes a first-team squad under Hansi Flick. The German coach will be watchful about his recovery but the 20-year-old still has a huge future in the game. Let’s wait and see how it plays out.