Barcelona manager Xavi Hernandez is steeling his side for an epic “football war” in the second leg of their Champions League quarter-final tie against Paris Saint-Germain at the Camp Nou.
The Blaugrana take a slender 3-2 lead into Tuesday’s return fixture after an enthralling first leg in Paris last week. However, Xavi knows his players will need to be at their very best to see off the star-studded French champions and book a semi-final berth.
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.
In a candid interview with Spanish publication SPORT, Robert Navarro, a former La Masia graduate and current Cádiz CF player, delved into the ongoing transformation at his former club, FC Barcelona, under the leadership of Xavi Hernández. Offering an insider’s perspective, Navarro shed light on Xavi’s impact, the meteoric rise of young talents Lamine Yamal and Pau Cubarsí, and Barcelona’s prospects in the ongoing La Liga title race.
Navarro, who departed La Masia in 2019 to join AS Monaco’s youth ranks, acknowledged the challenges aspiring youngsters face in breaking into Barcelona’s star-studded first team.
In a highly entertaining match at the iconic Montjuic Stadium, Barcelona secured their place in the Champions League quarterfinals with a 3-1 victory over Italian champions Napoli. The aggregate score of 4-2 marked Barcelona’s first appearance in the competition’s final eight since the 2019-20 season, ending a four-year drought.
The Catalan giants came out firing on all cylinders, pressing high and giving Napoli little time to settle. Their efforts were rewarded early on, with young talent Fermín López opening the scoring by calmly slotting home a pull-back from Raphinha.
