Flick finds another Barcelona option as Xavi Espart earns squad promotion

Barcelona have promoted 19-year-old academy graduate Xavi Espart to the first team after he impressed head coach Hansi Flick and sporting director Deco during pre-season.

Espart’s performances in preparation for the new campaign have earned him the approval of both Flick and the club’s sporting department. Barcelona have now rewarded that progress by giving him a more prominent place within the senior squad.

According to Mundo Deportivo, Espart will wear number 12 in La Liga after initially being allocated the number 36. He wore that shirt in Barcelona’s opening league match at Elche on Sunday, when he started at left-back.

The appearance marked an important step in the teenager’s rapid rise from the club’s academy. His promotion is also an early indication of Barcelona’s confidence in his ability to contribute at first-team level.

Flick is understood to value Espart’s versatility and professional approach. The academy graduate can operate at right-back, as a defensive midfielder, in central midfield or at left-back, the position he occupied against Elche.

That flexibility was particularly useful for the opening league fixture. Alejandro Balde remained in Barcelona, while Joao Cancelo was not yet ready to start, allowing Espart to fill in on the left side of the defence.

His ability to cover several positions has strengthened his case with Flick, who has been impressed by the youngster’s displays during the build-up to the season. Espart’s promotion therefore reflects not only his recent form but also the range of roles he can perform within the squad.

Barcelona’s plans extend beyond his immediate elevation to the first team. Espart currently has a contract with the club until 2028, but the intention is to improve his salary and extend the agreement for a longer period.

Those discussions are expected to take place later, once the transfer window has closed. For now, the decision to move him into the first-team group and assign him the number 12 shirt represents the first formal step in Barcelona’s efforts to demonstrate their faith in him.

The move completes a notable progression for Espart, who has gone from being an academy player to making his league debut in the opening match of the campaign and earning recognition from Flick and Deco. His capacity to play across defence and midfield has made him one of the coach’s most useful emerging options.