Barcelona keep Belgian teenager Jesse Bessio in first-team orbit during La Liga delay

Barcelona have mapped out a temporary development plan for Belgian winger Jesse Bessio while the 18-year-old waits for the administrative process to be completed before he can return to normal first-team training.

Bessio is currently working with Barca Atletic after bureaucracy surrounding his visa prevented him from receiving clearance from La Liga to play for Barcelona’s senior side. The club is using the arrangement to ensure he continues to build match fitness and experience rather than allowing the delay to interrupt his progress.

The teenager is expected to feature for Barca Atletic against Reus on Wednesday evening in a friendly at the Johan Cruyff Stadium. The match forms part of a plan designed to give Bessio additional minutes and help him adapt to the demands of competitive football.

His involvement with the reserve side should not be interpreted as a decision by Barcelona to move him away from the first team. Instead, the club wants him to remain within the senior squad’s environment and is working to integrate him fully as soon as the relevant procedures allow.

According to Mundo Deportivo, registering Bessio with Barca Atletic is viewed as a sporting solution within Barcelona’s structure. It gives him the opportunity to play official matches and gain valuable minutes during periods when opportunities with the first team are limited.

Bessio made a strong impression during pre-season. He scored twice as Barcelona beat Basel 4-2 and also appeared in the Joan Gamper Trophy match against Al Ahly.

The Belgian’s performances during that period helped raise expectations around his development, but the unresolved visa-related formalities have prevented him from taking the next step in official first-team competition. Until La Liga grants the necessary approval, Barcelona’s plan is to keep him training in the senior set-up while using Barca Atletic fixtures to maintain his involvement on the pitch.

Barca Atletic are also continuing their preparations for the season through a series of friendly matches. They have played four games so far, recording one victory, one draw and two defeats on penalties.

Their opening fixture ended in a 2-1 defeat by Tona. The reserve side then drew 1-1 with Girona B before securing their only win to date, a 2-1 success against L’Hospitalet.

In their fourth match, Barca Atletic drew 0-0 with Vilanova in the Vilanova City Cup. They subsequently lost the competition’s penalty shootout 3-0.

For now, those matches provide Bessio with a route to regular football while Barcelona waits for the clearance that will determine when he can resume a normal role with the first team.