FC Barcelona's La Masia is a philosophy, a brand and a virtual religion

Walk into Camp Nou and, even on a non-match day, the 99,000-seater stadium takes your breath away. Coloured in the distinctive maroon and blue of FC Barcelona, the words “Mes que un club” printed on the seats are unmissable. Translated from Catalan, they simply mean “more than a club”. 

That is the identity of FC Barcelona in Spain, nay, Cataluña. Football is a way of life at FCB’s grand home stadium, which has nurtured the likes of Lionel Messi, Xavi, Andrés Iniesta, Sergio Busquets and Gerard Piqué. But this all-consuming “way of life” is reflected more fully some eight kilometres away, at the Ciutat Esportiva Joan Gamper. 

This sporting complex houses administrative offices, medical set-ups and FC Barcelona’s first and second team’s training grounds. Its most prized occupant is the youth academy, La Masia. A modern hostelling structure, it is enclosed behind tall trees, almost cut off from the rest of the training complex and indeed the world. 

La Masia means “The Farmhouse”, which is precisely where the FC Barcelona legend began. Established on the outskirts of the city, the club’s earliest graduates enlisted at a 1702 farmhouse. The idea to use this place as a youth academy was mooted by the club’s legendary player and manager Johan Cruyff, and it was established in 1979. 

Glorious names such as Pep Guardiola, Carles Puyol, Guillermo Amor, Luis Milla, Thiago Motta, Sergi Barjuán, Victor Valdés, Cesc Fàbregas, Luis García and Mikel Arteta passed through the gates of this facility and into Catalan footballing lore. Messi, Xavi and Iniesta spent time together at this old farmhouse in their formative years and, in 2010, it received the honour of being the first football academy to train all three finalists for the Ballon d’Or in a single year. 

A year later, on June 30, 2011, the farmhouse shut forever and the youth academy moved to its present location. “The move allowed us to make important additions in keeping with the requirements of modern-day football. Today, this facility caters to nearly 300 young players, all of whom dream of playing for FC Barcelona. We help nurture this dream,” said Juan José Luque, director of residence, La Masia. 

If it weren’t for the club emblems at every step, the main La Masia building could pass for a college dormitory with classrooms at the ground level. There are also recreation rooms and a common eating area along with kitchens and administrative offices, all players staying on the upper floors. On the outside, the youth training parks are enclosed on all sides so that they are cut off from the world. It is important to keep their focus on football. Worldly distractions don’t allow for dreams to come true. 

The first point of interest on the outside is the artificial turf — natural turf plus 10 per cent plastic grass that is woven and laid carefully. Bend down for a feel, and your hand comes up wet, even under the bright noon sun. 

“This is a specifically prepared combination for FC Barcelona. It helps retain water, and that is important, because it helps in our style of play. The philosophy of our club is to keep the ball on the ground at all times and pass it around quickly. This is where we first sow the seeds of our philosophy among the young recruits,” said Luque. 

Cruyff is widely regarded as the man who gave definition to this Barcelona philosophy, also known as “tiki-taka”. The Dutch legend introduced the “rondo” at the club — players form a circle with one or two players inside, chasing the ball as it is quickly passed around. “Every training session begins with a game of rondo,” the director said, with a proud smile. 

His words rang true as an Under-17 training session commenced at the same time. The rondo assumed shape, and kick-about started. It all just looked like a lot of fun, but ask a seven-year-old — that’s how young you can be to try out at this great club — and he will tell you it isn’t. It is a test of speed, quick decision-making and ability to see a pass, all from the youngest age group. Physicality counts only at higher age groups, but until Under-13, it is about agility. 

Those who make the grade come to live at La Masia once they are 13 or older. Here, daily routine is football training from 9 am and academic classes from 3 pm onwards, with food and recreational breaks in between. 

It is a rigorous schedule that will eventually pay off, when professional contracts come forth, sometimes as early as 15 or 16. Even then, getting into the youth set-up is no guarantee — not all rise to first or second team status, of course. Many are culled on the way, as groups become smaller and age brackets increase. Once you reach the Under-17 and Under-19 level, the normal 23-player squad comes into play. 

The obvious question is: what of those who fail to graduate to the senior teams here at FC Barcelona or even at other clubs? There is a recent story of a young footballer who, at age 15, wasn’t interested in studying further. His only interest apart from football? Styling hair. So the club administration arranged for a curriculum so he could open a salon if his football career didn’t work out. 

 “We provide education here, football and otherwise. We have had kids train to be chefs while playing football, or in other cases, some kids have worked on receiving coaching certificates. Not everyone will become Messi, Xavi or Iniesta. But they all love football, and don’t want to be parted from it. Maybe they will style a football team’s hair, cook healthy and delicious food for a club team, or even come back to coach here some day, starting from the youth levels,” said Luque.

 In a footballing sense, this is a factory, as FC Barcelona’s success over the years reveals. Zoom out of the pomp and glory though, and La Masia is more than just an academy.

A different ballgame

Espanyol’s youth teams together have won 24 out of 37 trophies in local and national leagues in the past three seasons

Some 24 km north of La Masaa, the other Barcelona club, RCD Espanyol, run their youth academy at Ciutat Esportiva Dani Jarque. At age 26, in 2009, Jargue died of a heart attack during the team’s pre-season. He had been named club captain for the 2009-10 La Liga season.

Having played all his life at the B-club in Cataluña, Jarque signified everything that Espanyol stand for. A passionate youth, rising through the ranks, growing through the academy, and into the first team, is the very motto of this club. At times, La Masia graduates have to fight off big-money acquisitions because that is how football business is run nowadays. Patience is their watchword and virtue. But in comparison, the graduates at a neighbouring club — albeit poor in finances and major trophies — are richer in first-team chances. 

This club, owned by Chinese conglomerate Rastar Managerial Group since January 2016, is governed by two key principles of compromise and viability. First, they are satisfied with not competing for big competitions (Espanyol’s last major European success came in 2006-07 when they lost the Europa Cup final to La Liga rivals Sevilla FC). Instead, they focus their attention on working this football factory seamlessly. And second, if a big club does come calling, they will not stand in the way of their players exiting. 

Espanyol’s current objective: they want to field a complete first-team of academy products in the 2020-21 season, and they are about half way to achieving this mark. That may seem like a low percentage and a long target. But look at their youth results, and the endgame becomes easier. Espanyol’s youth teams together have won 24 out of 37 trophies in local and national leagues in the past three seasons, an astounding success considering FC Barcelona’s muscle in the region.