Barcelona finds itself in a precarious situation as up to ten talented academy players could leave the club for free this summer amid contract renewal concerns. According to a report from SPORT, the Catalan giants have yet to present renewal offers to several promising youngsters from their U19 team, despite some being identified as potential first-team players under new coach Hansi Flick.
Among the most concerning cases are winger Arnau Pradas, top scorer Hugo Alba, and Jan Virgili. While Barcelona holds an option to extend Virgili's contract for another year, the club has not offered new deals to Alba or Pradas, with the latter reportedly attracting interest from Saudi Arabia.
This situation is particularly alarming considering La Masia's reputation as one of football's premier academies, having produced world-class talents like Lionel Messi, Xavi, Sergio Busquets, Andres Iniesta, Gerard Pique, Cesc Fabregas, and more recently, breakout stars Lamine Yamal and Pau Cubarsi.
The list of players facing uncertain futures extends beyond Pradas, Alba, and Virgili. Jofre Torrents, Quim Junyent, and Brian Farinas—all considered to have first-team potential—along with Hector Rangel, Adrian Gill, Tomas Marques, Alexander Walton, Dani Ferrer, and Marcos Parriego are also out of contract this summer.
Barcelona sporting director Deco, along with La Masia chiefs Jose Ramon Alexanco and Toni Hernandez, now face significant challenges in securing the futures of these promising talents. The situation echoes recent concerns about talent retention, with Barca Atletic (the reserve side) captain Unai Hernandez also reportedly receiving interest from Saudi Arabia.
Meanwhile, Barcelona's first team, under Flick's guidance, currently leads La Liga with 60 points, level with rivals Real Madrid but with a game in hand. Their next fixture will be a rescheduled league match against Osasuna on March 27, which was postponed following the tragic death of first-team doctor Carles Minarro Garcia.
