While the spotlight is on Barcelona’s established stars, the club is taking calculated steps in a less publicized but equally important area for future planning. A young player is being closely monitored by club officials, and a series of positive reports about him are pouring in, fueling a growing conviction that this development could soon reshape one of the key positions in the first team.
Initially, it seemed like a long-term gamble, with no rush or public promises. Limited playing time was followed by gradual development, leading to increased confidence from the coaching staff of his current club. As time passed, the indicators began to translate into concrete figures, and those figures into clear signals within the Camp Nou offices.
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Mundo Deportivo revealed that Barcelona is very pleased with the performances of 19-year-old Héctor Fort during his loan spell at Elche in La Liga. The club believes that this temporary break from Barcelona has helped the player mature and gain valuable competitive experience, bringing him closer to the required level of readiness for the first team.
Fort, a Barcelona academy graduate, had previously made appearances for the first team under Xavi and represented Spain at various youth levels. At Elche, he needed some time to adapt before his playing time increased starting in November, and he began to establish himself in coach Eder Sarabia’s starting lineup.
The coach utilizes Fort on the right wing within a five-man defensive system, a role that offers him a balance between defensive duties and attacking freedom. This versatility is clearly reflected in his statistics, as he has scored two goals and provided two assists in less than 500 minutes played in La Liga and the Copa del Rey.
In the recent match against Rayo Vallecano, Fort scored his first La Liga goal after just six minutes, a solo effort that showcased his speed and finishing ability. Despite suffering a left shoulder injury while celebrating the goal, which forced him to leave the game, he was named Man of the Match.
Barcelona believes the loan has achieved its primary objective: to bring the player out of the club’s “bubble,” give him greater responsibility, and accelerate his technical and personal development. The club’s management also believes that Fort, who can also play on the left wing, is progressing steadily and is a strong contender for the near future.
The newspaper further confirmed that German coach Hansi Flick highly values Fort and has previously expressed his support for him, as evidenced by the meeting between the player and his parent club, where a friendly conversation took place on the pitch.
With this approach, Barcelona continues to rely on a smart loan policy to develop academy talents, hoping to replicate successful experiences and create players ready to compete at the highest level without prematurely integrating them into the first team.
