Promising Landry Farré is Back on Track | OneFootball

A ban as a youth player. Injuries throughout his time in La Masia. Filling needs at multiple positions without consistency. There are many reasons why the highly rated Landry Farré could have seen his progress stalled, but this season it seems that the 17-year-old defender is right back on track, now drawing lofty comparisons to Jules Koundé for his versatility as a defender.

Farré may have played with the U-18s this season based on the way that injuries stalled his progress, but he has consistently found himself in the team for Barça Atlétic, making six appearances and playing close to 350 minutes already. In the meantime, he is spending the rest of his time with Juvenil A. He’s also been a regular at centre-back in the UEFA Youth League, partnering with the left-footed Leo Saca.

But that jump from Juvenil B to the second team shouldn’t be a surprise for those who’ve been watching the teenage sensation. He’s played up a level throughout his time in the academy, going most recently from the U-16s two years ago to the U-18s last summer, and finally Barça Atlétic in August. Due to injuries to others, Farré started four out of the first fives games of the season for Barça Atlétic, playing at both left-back and right-back.

Farré was born in Côte d’Ivoire, though he was adopted in Spain and has lived the majority of his life there. He joined La Masia in 2015, but was ineligible to play until January of 2016 due to Barcelona’s FIFA ban. Fortunately, he was still at the seven-a-side level, so this didn’t affect his development like some others.

He was always a highly rated centre-back in the youth teams, usually playing a level up alongside Lamine Yamal. However, during his time with the U-16s and U-18s, those aforementioned injuries kept him on the sidelines.

Yet, that time on the sideline only delayed Farré, without knocking him off course. It’s still up in the air if he’ll play as a centre-back or an outside back at the highest level, but his two-footedness, natural quickness, and defensive instincts make him a reasonable fit anywhere along that backline.

He is a regular with the Spanish youth national teams, playing at centre-back for Spain at the U-17 Euro in May of 2024, starting all three games. He has since debuted with the Spain U-18s, playing at centre-back in three friendlies in October of 2024.

Between Farré, Andrés Cuena, Álvaro Cortés, Eman Kospo, and Leo Saca, there is an abundance of La Masia centre-backs between 17 and 19-years-old who are waiting in the wings. Not all of them will reach the new Camp Nou, but Farré should have the best chance from this bunch.

This might be just a header, but Farré is showcasing a more dangerous side of his game this season. This from the UEFA League win over Borussia Dortmund.