La Masia prodigy set for long awaited Barcelona debut against Valladolid
Barcelona could witness the birth of another La Masia success story tonight, as Dani Rodriguez is expected to make his first-team debut against Real Valladolid.
According to Mundo Deportivo, Hansi Flick is set to rotate his squad heavily ahead of a key Champions League clash against Inter Milan, and Rodríguez is among the youngsters tipped to get minutes.
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Ahead of the game, three promising youth talents — Dani Rodriguez, Landry Farre, and Noah Darvich — were involved in first-team training.
Flick's plan is to reward their hard work by giving at least one of them their debut, with Rodriguez being the frontrunner.
The 19-year-old winger is highly rated by Flick, who has followed his development closely and has included him in several training sessions with the senior side already.
A versatile talent with a big future
Rodriguez may not have played much this season due to muscle problems, but his talent has never been in question.
Dani Rodriguez will make his Barcelona debut. (Photo by TOM GOYVAERTS/BELGA MAG/AFP via Getty Images)
In just 10 appearances for the youth team, he has scored three goals and delivered several assists, showing that he can make an impact despite limited game time.
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Flick is especially drawn to his pace, technical ability, and flexibility, given that he can operate on both wings, as an attacking midfielder, or even in a deeper role.
Having joined La Masia from Real Sociedad in 2020 at the age of 14, Rodriguez has grown into one of the standout players in the youth system.
His performances last season, split between the U19s and the reserves, earned him a contract renewal until 2027.
Despite interest from Real Sociedad, Athletic Club, and clubs in the Premier League, the youngster chose to commit his future to Barcelona.
A regular for Spain at youth level, Rodriguez now stands on the edge of a massive opportunity. If he gets his debut tonight, it could be the first step towards a bright future at Barcelona.
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