Ex-Barca Star Defends Xavi, Hails Lamine Yamal's Brilliance

In a candid interview with SPORT, Robert Navarro, the former La Masia prodigy now plying his trade for Cadiz CF, spoke at length about his time at the fabled Barcelona academy, the reasons behind his departure, and his admiration for the current crop of youngsters breaking through at the Catalan giants.

Navarro, who spent five years honing his skills at La Masia before joining Monaco’s youth setup in 2019, shed light on why he decided to leave the Blaugrana ranks. “You felt that it was impossible to make it to the first team,” the 27-year-old remarked, referring to the dearth of opportunities for academy graduates during his time there. “Other projects seemed easier to transition into the professional world. All the boys want is to become footballers.”

Despite parting ways with his boyhood club, Navarro still holds a deep affection for Barcelona, as evidenced by his glowing praise for Xavi Hernandez’s managerial tenure. “I think the media has given Barca more sticks than they deserve. Xavi is doing a very, very good job,” the Cadiz midfielder asserted, backing the under-fire Barca legend.

Navarro’s admiration, however, wasn’t just limited to the coaching staff. He reserved special commendation for two of La Masia’s current crown jewels, Lamine Yamal and Pau Cubarsi, who have taken the footballing world by storm with their precocious talents.

“I had already spotted Lamine’s talent,” Navarro reminisced. “When I was 17, I showed a video of Martin Zubimendi to him and said, ‘Look at this boy. I haven’t seen anyone at La Masia do what he does.’ He’s incredible and can define an era.”

As for Cubarsi, the versatile defender’s meteoric rise has left Navarro thoroughly impressed. “I didn’t know Pau, and he’s surprising me a lot. His ability on the ball is spectacular, and defensively, I think, ‘He’s going to pocket Osimhen.’ And the lad holds his own, he goes into duels. I congratulate him.”

While Navarro’s journey took him away from the hallowed grounds of the Ciutat Esportiva, his affinity for Barcelona remains undiminished. As the next generation of La Masia talents continues to dazzle, the Cadiz man’s belief in their prospects is unwavering, echoing the sentiments of the entire Blaugrana faithful.

“The league? In football, anything can happen as long as they keep believing and racking up wins,” Navarro concluded, offering a glimmer of hope for Barcelona’s fading title aspirations.

In an era where youth development has become paramount, Navarro’s insights serve as a resounding endorsement of Barcelona’s fabled academy, reassuring fans that the future remains bright, with talents like Yamal and Cubarsi poised to etch their names in Catalan folklore.