5 Barcelona Youth Players Who Fit Luis Enrique's Vision

Jason Pettigrove@@jaypetti1971X.com LogoContributor IJanuary 27, 2015

5 Barcelona Youth Players Who Fit Luis Enrique's Vision

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    Alejandro Grimaldo is one of a crop of youngsters who would fit Luis Enrique's style of play.
    Alejandro Grimaldo is one of a crop of youngsters who would fit Luis Enrique's style of play.Valerio Pennicino/Getty Images

    Barcelona are incredibly lucky to have a thriving La Masia academy.

    There aren't too many teams in world football that can compare to the Blaugrana when it comes to mining their own gold, and the conveyor belt just keeps on turning.

    If Luis Enrique is looking for members of the youth setup to pad out his first-team squad, then he has a plethora of young talent to work with.

    Let's take a look at five who would fit his vision...

Alen Halilovic

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    The "Croatian Messi" has what it takes to go right to the very top.
    The "Croatian Messi" has what it takes to go right to the very top.Valerio Pennicino/Getty Images

    The world really is Alen Halilovic's oyster right now.

    His moniker of the "Croatian Messi" is a little unfair, but given his skill set and the high-octane, super skilful way that he plays the game, you can understand why such comparisons are made.

    Like all of the best exponents, Halilovic is happiest when the ball is at his feet and his direct running at defenders forces them to commit to a decision. Make the wrong one and he will glide past as if they weren't there.

    A drop of the shoulder here, a change of pace there, when the youngster is in full flight it's hard to knock him from his goal.

    Given time and space he is lethal, as Ponferredina found out.

Munir El-Haddadi

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    Munir needs a little more experience but can play a part at first-team level.
    Munir needs a little more experience but can play a part at first-team level.Denis Doyle/Getty Images

    Munir El-Haddadi burst onto the scene at the beginning of the season in a blaze of glory and a whirlwind of publicity.

    A debut goal vs. Elche merely added to the young man's impressive CV.

    His accelerated development through Barca's youth ranks was always likely to plateau at some point, and the rigours of elite-level combat have knocked him from his stride a little.

    That said, and despite a return to Barca B for now, Munir has all of the tools to make it on the big stage.

    A more studious approach and a few substitute appearances here and there should eventually pay dividends for both player and club.

    He remains a lethal finisher and one who is evidently too good for the Spanish second division, the Liga Adelante.

Adama Traore

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    Adama Traore is lightning-fast.
    Adama Traore is lightning-fast.Valerio Pennicino/Getty Images

    Adama Traore isn't a typical winger in his build, but watch him on a football pitch and he is every inch the definitive wide man.

    Lightning-quick, Traore's upper-body strength is advantageous when making in-roads toward goal.

    No featherlight offers this. The power that the youngster possesses is frightening.

    In the absence of Gerard Deulofeu from Barca B, Traore, only a week past his 19th birthday, has taken on the mantle of match-winner. And how.

    Jean-Marie Dongou and Munir El-Haddadi have both been grateful recipients of Traore's build-up play and this video perfectly outlines what he brings to the party.

    Already with a taste of life at the top level, if Luis Enrique is looking for alternatives to an out-of-sorts Luis Suarez, then he doesn't need to look any further than Adama Traore.

Alejandro Grimaldo

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    Alejandro Grimaldo plays with a maturity beyond his years.
    Alejandro Grimaldo plays with a maturity beyond his years.Valerio Pennicino/Getty Images

    Ever since making his debut as the youngest-ever Barca B player at 15 years of age, Alejandro Grimaldo has been an old head on young shoulders.

    A maturity in the left-sided role has been on display from a youngster that was clearly destined to play the game at the top level.

    Grimaldo might not have the zip and pace of Jordi Alba but he offers a defensive excellence down that side of the pitch that is way beyond his years.

    Cool and calm in possession, he's already had to fight back to full fitness after nearly a year out through injury.

    That he looks like he's never been away is a testament to just how good this 19 year old is.

Sergi Samper

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    A future Barca captain?
    A future Barca captain?David Ramos/Getty Images

    Might we be looking at a future Barca captain in Sergi Samper?

    If his full first-team debut against APOEL is anything to go by, then this young man is destined for the very top of his profession.

    Per Whoscored.com, his 119 touches on the ball were by far the highest in the game and his 93 percent pass accuracy was also the best on show.

    Only just turned 20 years of age, it's abundantly clear that Samper has a big future in the game.

    Like any great player, he does the simple thing whenever possible and doesn't over-complicate things. 

    ESPN's Lee Roden noted Samper's excellence three years ago when Barca's U19 squad were playing against Celtic in the now-defunct NextGen tournament. Suggesting he might be the new Pep Guardiola, Roden said:

    But one shone brightest of all: Barca's gangly 16-year-old midfielder, Sergi Samper, comfortably kept possession ticking over against players significantly older than him. Confident on the ball and sharp in the mind, Samper's skills were evident.

    Nothing appears to faze the youngster and it's potentially that part of his game which will lift him on to great things within the game.

    Given the opportunity now, he's unlikely to let Luis Enrique down. 

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