Antonio Conte praises FC Barcelona's La Masia academy

Italian football manager Antonio Conte has expressed high praise for FC Barcelona’s youth academy, La Masia, stating that he would like to visit the facility to observe its operations firsthand.

In an interview with The Athletic, Conte remarked that the academy is doing something “extraordinary.” He highlighted the ability of young players to integrate naturally into the first team at age 18 and perform with ease in front of large crowds, noting that this success reflects significant behind-the-scenes work and a structure that is perfectly aligned with the first team.

Conte specifically noted the performance of young left-back Xavi Espart. Despite reports that the player had limited minutes previously and was a candidate for a loan move, Conte observed him playing as a starter with “amazing ease” and demonstrating great personality on the pitch.