‘Guille will shine in the first team’… Barcelona gem’s former coach believes he will thrive at the top level | OneFootball

The development of young talent is something that has always had a special place at FC Barcelona. Over the years, many talented youngsters have had great opportunities at the club and some have managed to take advantage of them as well. However, excelling at the top level is something that very few players at Barcelona can manage to achieve.

Yet, every now and then, some players come along that bring huge expectations riding on their shoulders. One player within the Barcelona youth system who carries such expectations right now is 16-year-old Guille Fernandez, who many seem to regard as the next big revelation at the club.

However, for his former youth coach Dani Horcas, Guille is a player who he believe will excel within the first team once he ends up getting opportunities within the first team, as quoted by SPORT. While he acknowledges that nerves could hold him back at first, he says that the 16-year-old midfielder will gradually find his rhythm:

“In the first few minutes of his debut, he might be nervous, but Guille is the type of player who grows quickly. If he connects on three good touches, his confidence will soar, and he’ll play exceptionally well. I truly believe Guille will shine in the first team.”

This particular issue in terms of nerves, however, is something that Horcas believes is apparent when he plays with Barcelona Atletic as well:

“Guille struggles in some matches with the reserves. Sometimes he seems a bit nervous and rushed, which I attribute to his eagerness to prove himself and take responsibility for leading the team. Let’s not forget he’s still in his first year at the youth level and playing many matches in Primera Federación, a highly demanding league.”

Yet, he also believes that the Barcelona youngster would do well to continue his development in the subsidiary for now:

“Playing with Barça Atlètic will help him continue developing as a footballer… To succeed, he’ll need continuity. This season, he should focus on regular minutes with Barça Atlètic and alternate with the first team next year. There’s no need to rush, and his family shares this perspective.”

However, Horcas has no doubts about his quality and believes that once he does manage to calm down and find his confidence, that is when he will unlock his full potential:

“When Guille calms down, he’ll unlock his full potential. There’s no risk of stagnation in such a tough category. Look at Fermín’s development in Linares; adapting to all circumstances is key.”

Moreover, he suggests that the player may even excel more with the first team than he can manage to do with any youth team. To back up this statement, the player’s former youth coach used the example of Marc Casado as well:

“It’s easier to play at Balaídos than Urritxe. With better teammates, fields, and more space, he’d have the time to shine. Just look at Casadó—he’s thriving more in the elite than in lower divisions.”

For now, there is a chance that Guille Fernandez could get called up to travel with the first team for the game against Celta Vigo. Whether or not he gets minutes in that game then remains uncertain, but Hansi Flick has not been shy when it comes to giving opportunities to young talents this season.