Chapter 6: Barcelona Is In Desperate Need of a Center Forward! La Masia's Problem Boy?
At the same time, it was late at night.
A building next to Camp Nou and the La Masia youth academy—the Barcelona B team administration building.
An office on the top floor was brightly lit!
Barcelona B team coach Eusebio Sacristán sat at his desk, rubbing his face fiercely.
He was frowning!
"We're playing Castilla in the league this weekend! But Dongou got injured at this juncture!"
"We haven't won against Castilla for three years in a row... The media will eat us alive if this continues!"
"They'll eat us until there are no bones left!!"
Castilla, the Real Madrid B team.
As mortal enemies of La Liga and European football, the grievances between Barcelona and Real Madrid have lasted for over a hundred years.
And as the second teams of these giants, the battles between Barcelona B and Castilla are frequent and intense.
The players and fans are the type who start fighting the moment they meet!
Even if it's just a game in the second division, the popularity far exceeds some La Liga matches!
However, in recent years, the decline in the output quality of La Masia has led to the decline of the Barcelona B team.
It has become increasingly difficult to compete with Castilla.
They even fell out of the Second Division at one point and were relegated to the Third Division!!
Right now, the battle with Castilla is imminent, and the main center-forward Dongou was accidentally injured.
It made Sacristán feel like he was sitting on pins and needles.
"In the next two days, hurry and recruit a few people from La Masia to bolster our strength! Those young boys need a challenge!"
"However, filling the hole left by Dongou's injury isn't easy! Even the Barcelona first team urgently needs a capable center-forward!"
Sacristán was worried.
The assistant coach comforted him: "La Masia has produced a group of good young players recently! Maybe they can help us!"
"For example, the kid from Japan known as the 'Messi of the East,' Kubo! He has improved tremendously. We can arrange a training match to examine him!"
"He has a wide range of coverage; maybe he can play as a makeshift center!"
Sacristán frowned: "A player from Japan? Asian??"
"Castilla's defense is full of tigers and lions! The physical fitness of an Asian player might not be enough!"
The assistant coach scratched his head, thinking: "There are still a few candidates... It would be nice to have a local Spanish teenager, oh yes, there is another person!"
"A young player of Polish-Argentinian descent! I remember his position is center-forward! He was the Bronze Boot of the U17 league last season!"
"He seems to be very famous in La Masia! He's a problem boy! Mostly because he often fights with other players!"
After the words fell, Sacristán couldn't help but be taken aback, then snapped:
"What are you thinking? A brawler who likes to make trouble??"
"Look at the level of football in some of those regions! Have you ever seen a player from those backgrounds hold a main spot in the five major leagues??"
"Why should I trust a troublemaker? I'd rather choose the 'Japanese Messi' you mentioned!"
"How did he even get into La Masia??"
Sacristán sighed helplessly.
"In short, hurry and arrange a training match tomorrow to investigate! Pick a few capable players from La Masia. We can't lose against Real Madrid's second team again this weekend!"
"Otherwise, the Spanish media will make sure we never stand up again!!"
After Sacristán finished speaking, he lay down on the desk weakly and waved away the assistant coach.
He grabbed the Barcelona B team roster and stared at it for a long time.
It was a headache!
These were all disciples trained by him, many of them "young geniuses" from La Masia.
But compared to the era of Messi, Xavi, Iniesta, and Busquets, today's reserve force wasn't nearly as bright!
There wasn't a single super-genius to offer!
In recent years, Barcelona has mostly relied on buying players rather than their own youth training.
As for the Real Madrid second team they face this weekend...
While La Masia is famous, Real Madrid's youth training camp, 'La Fábrica', is just as strong.
Its contribution to Real Madrid is no less than La Masia's help to Barcelona!
Raúl González, Iker Casillas, Guti, Morientes... all were born in Real Madrid's youth system.
And these years, while La Masia declined, Real Madrid's youth training became stronger and stronger!
Morata, Nacho, Vázquez, Cheryshev...
And Jesé Rodríguez, known as the "New Ronaldo"!
These potential stars are currently playing for Real Madrid's second team, Castilla!
"God, I don't want to get fired!!" Sacristán groaned.
The pressure on him has been enormous as results decline year after year.
At this moment, he has only one hope: win next weekend's game against Castilla!
"My God, please give us a great center who can save the team!!"