Barcelona register Xavi Espart with first-team squad

Barcelona have registered young midfielder Xavi Espart with their first-team squad, giving him the number 12 shirt.

Under Article 28 of the Spanish Football Federation’s competition regulations, La Liga first-team players must be registered with squad numbers from one to 25. Espart’s move from Barcelona’s reserve side means he will now be listed as a first-team player and will wear number 12.

The development comes as Barcelona prepare to face Athletic Club on Thursday evening in their rearranged La Liga fixture from the opening round of the season.

Hamza Abdelkarim’s name also appeared on La Liga’s official website in the Barcelona first-team section for the first time. However, that listing does not mean the player has been formally registered with the senior squad.

Abdelkarim remains registered with Barcelona’s reserve team, despite some reports suggesting he had been added to the first-team list. A review of the Spanish Football Federation’s regulations confirms that he has not been registered as a first-team player.

Reserve-team players are assigned squad numbers starting at 26. Those numbers remain in place throughout the season, or until a player is officially promoted and registered with the first team, at which point he receives a number between one and 25.

Abdelkarim is currently playing for Barcelona with number 29. His appearance on La Liga’s website followed his promotion from the reserve squad for administrative purposes, rather than a formal change to his registration status.

The same situation applies to Brian Farinas, who wears number 28, Jordi Pesquera, who has number 33, and Alvaro Cortes, who wears number 26. Like Abdelkarim, those players have been moved up from the reserve squad but remain registered outside Barcelona’s first-team list.

Espart, by contrast, has completed the formal process and has been given the number 12 shirt.

Abdelkarim was named among Barcelona’s substitutes for their first match of the new season against Elche in La Liga. He did not feature as Barcelona won that game 5-0.

Barcelona’s match against Athletic Club was postponed after the club, along with Real Madrid and Atletico de Madrid, had players involved in the World Cup. The postponements were made in accordance with competition regulations to ensure those players received a longer period of rest.

Espart’s registration therefore makes him the latest Barcelona reserve player to be officially incorporated into the first-team squad, while Abdelkarim continues to be listed as a reserve-team player despite his appearance on La Liga’s website.