Gerard Deulofeu

[Theconomist]

I agree, a loan might not be a good idea, besides since when have clubs had the loaned player's interest at heart.

 

[Xtroverto]

I really don't understand why people are so stressed about Gerard, he's only 18 years old, let him take the time he needs to develop. 2 more seasons i the B-squad and then they can begin to integrate him with the A-squad. Busquets, Iniesta, Puyol, Valdes and Pedro all became regular starters after turning 21. In the case of Iniesta for example he only became a regular starter in the 2006-07 season at age 22. Gerard has all the time in the world to develop into an A-squad starter, no need to hurry.

 

[Trickykid]

I really don't understand why people are so stressed about Gerard, he's only 18 years old, let him take the time he needs to develop. 2 more seasons i the B-squad and then they can begin to integrate him with the A-squad. Busquets, Iniesta, Puyol, Valdes and Pedro all became regular starters after turning 21. In the case of Iniesta for example he only became a regular starter in the 2006-07 season at age 22. Gerard has all the time in the world to develop into an A-squad starter, no need to hurry.

I'd agree, except for the simple fact that Deulofeu is a much more obvious talent than both Busi, Puyol, Valdes, Pedro and perhaps even Iniesta were. Back when Iniesta was regarded as a special talent, there also weren't a host of english clubs breathing down his neck, just waiting for the slightest hint before they'd quadruple his wages in a heartbeat. If Deulofeu isn't shown trust by the club, I think he'll be gone, and 2 more seasons in the b-squad won't be even close to good enough for him. You could argue that we shouldn't keep anyone not keen to take it slow and humble in the blaugrana, and I wouldn't even disagree, but I'd stille be one sad little camper if we lost someone as brightly talented as Gerard.

 

[Flavia]

He was included in the squad for the benfica match.

 

[Paganinisrvnge]

I doubt he will start but I hope he gets at least 30 minutes to show what he can do against Benfica. I would be disappointed if he doesn't get at least 4 or 5 more appearances with the first team throughout the season. He is clearly vastly talented, so give him opportunites. Then, next year he can make even more appearances and by the time the world cup comes around, he should be in the first team.

 

[Xtroverto]

I'd agree, except for the simple fact that Deulofeu is a much more obvious talent than both Busi, Puyol, Valdes, Pedro and perhaps even Iniesta were. Back when Iniesta was regarded as a special talent, there also weren't a host of english clubs breathing down his neck, just waiting for the slightest hint before they'd quadruple his wages in a heartbeat. If Deulofeu isn't shown trust by the club, I think he'll be gone, and 2 more seasons in the b-squad won't be even close to good enough for him. You could argue that we shouldn't keep anyone not keen to take it slow and humble in the blaugrana, and I wouldn't even disagree, but I'd stille be one sad little camper if we lost someone as brightly talented as Gerard.

True, but every great player from La Masia the last 20 years have been courted by other clubs. Both Xavi an Puyol have had multiple offers from other clubs early in their careers but have remained for sentimental reasons. If Deulofeu really want to succeed in Barcelona, I doubt that a quadrupling of his wage will be enough to lure him away from Camp Nou. The question is weather he believe he can make the first team, Xavi didn't and he almost signed for AC Milan, Cesc didn't and he signed for Arsenal. In the end it is up to the player to decide if he want to fight or not.

 

[Trickykid]

True, but every great player from La Masia the last 20 years have been courted by other clubs. Both Xavi an Puyol have had multiple offers from other clubs early in their careers but have remained for sentimental reasons. If Deulofeu really want to succeed in Barcelona, I doubt that a quadrupling of his wage will be enough to lure him away from Camp Nou. The question is weather he believe he can make the first team, Xavi didn't and he almost signed for AC Milan, Cesc didn't and he signed for Arsenal. In the end it is up to the player to decide if he want to fight or not.

As far as I recall there wasn't much hype or foreign interest in Puyol back when he was young. When he broke into the first team as a young right back, he wasn't exactly impressive, and he didn't give many hints of his fantastic career to come. I could of course be wrong, but I don't recall him being courted by any foreign clubs until he was in his mid twenties. About the The Xavi->Milan connection, wasn't that when he was in his mid twenties too?
My worries about Deulofeu possibly leaving are completely unfounded, and stems solely from him looking a bit more selfish and perhaps more arrogant than most La Masia talents in my eyes. That's why I doubt he'll settle for two more years in the second best spanish league, if he's promised PL action.

 

[Deco 20]

There was pretty much no interest in Pedro and Busquets

I'm also a bit worried, since his contract ends this summer and several ex-barca staff are now at City

 

[ivan22]

It's up to him really. It's barca we're talking about, probably the best team in history of football. You don't expect to be a starter at the age of 18 or even 20 unless you're messi.

So if he's willing to wait and be part of the best team in history: fine, he has to. I'm sure his time will come at barca.

If he wants to play and be a superstar outside of barcelona: fine, he definately has the potential.

personally I don't like the youngstars getting hyped. They often cant live up to their expectation. I prefer it the other way around, like tello or cuenca. When Tello first entered the pitch I was like "Who? Never heard of him, can't be that good" and then BAM. The other way around it is "Finally Deulofeu, about time he starts kicking asses!" and then you expect him to score hundrets of goals (Well not really...but you get it) and if he doesn't you're disapointed.

 

[Tonykross]

Tello and Cuenca never lit up the youth system, that was the reason they were never hyped or known.

 

[Xtroverto]

As far as I recall there wasn't much hype or foreign interest in Puyol back when he was young. When he broke into the first team as a young right back, he wasn't exactly impressive, and he didn't give many hints of his fantastic career to come. I could of course be wrong, but I don't recall him being courted by any foreign clubs until he was in his mid twenties. About the The Xavi->Milan connection, wasn't that when he was in his mid twenties too?
My worries about Deulofeu possibly leaving are completely unfounded, and stems solely from him looking a bit more selfish and perhaps more arrogant than most La Masia talents in my eyes. That's why I doubt he'll settle for two more years in the second best spanish league, if he's promised PL action.

This is getting of topic but...Xavi was approached by AC Milan right after the U20 WC in 1999, it was when Galliani offered him a contract about 14 times that of the one he had at Barcelona. In the case of Puyol he actually was a really good player early on, in fact he was one of the few players I enjoyed watching back in the early 2000s. Both Juventus and Manchester United were interested but the club somehow managed to keep him. In those days Barcelona wasn't exactly the club it is today so it was a big thing that they managed to hold on to him, had Puyol not been Catalan he would have left for sure.

 

[DennyCrane]

My worries about Deulofeu possibly leaving are completely unfounded, and stems solely from him looking a bit more selfish and perhaps more arrogant than most La Masia talents in my eyes. That's why I doubt he'll settle for two more years in the second best spanish league, if he's promised PL action.

Fully agree. His contract expires and he will demand a lot from the club given his recent hype and offers from other clubs. Since it is then for the player to decide whether a transfer happens or not, the club will need to come up with some serious plans for his future that involve regular first league appearences or he'll leave. So, in a nutshell, it's either first team action or no action from the summer on, I think.

 

[Trickykid]

This is getting of topic but...Xavi was approached by AC Milan right after the U20 WC in 1999, it was when Galliani offered him a contract about 14 times that of the one he had at Barcelona. In the case of Puyol he actually was a really good player early on, in fact he was one of the few players I enjoyed watching back in the early 2000s. Both Juventus and Manchester United were interested but the club somehow managed to keep him. In those days Barcelona wasn't exactly the club it is today so it was a big thing that they managed to hold on to him, had Puyol not been Catalan he would have left for sure.

I remember very vividly back when Puyol started playing regularly, and I wasn't impressed. He was darting up and down the right wing, but was also shaky as hell with less than mediocre control. Odd how differently we can percieve things. About the transfer rumours, I won't argue with you there, as I could've missed them completely. I bet both Xavi and Puyol had options to leave back then, but none as readily as Deulofeu has now, and not at the same tender age.

Edit: your point about Puyol being one of the few players you enjoyed watching back then, I really don't get it. Just off the top of my head I can name the likes of Rivaldo, Luis Enrique, Cocu, De La Peña (or did he leave earlier?) who all played in that era, not to forget Xavi and Guardiola. But hey, to each his own, eh.

 

[Paganinisrvnge]

Don't see why he wouldn't get a decent amount of first team experience next year. Wouldn't surprise me if we sold 2 of Alexis/Cuenca/Tello/Villa. I just hope we don't bring in Neymar and then refuse to get a CB again.

 

[Xtroverto]

I remember very vividly back when Puyol started playing regularly, and I wasn't impressed. He was darting up and down the right wing, but was also shaky as hell with less than mediocre control. Odd how differently we can percieve things. About the transfer rumours, I won't argue with you there, as I could've missed them completely. I bet both Xavi and Puyol had options to leave back then, but none as readily as Deulofeu has now, and not at the same tender age.

Edit: your point about Puyol being one of the few players you enjoyed watching back then, I really don't get it. Just off the top of my head I can name the likes of Rivaldo, Luis Enrique, Cocu, De La Peña (or did he leave earlier?) who all played in that era, not to forget Xavi and Guardiola. But hey, to each his own, eh.

Well each to his own as you say, but I was a Puyol fan from early on, he played with the same intensity back then as he does now. And I don't agree that he was mediocre, after all he was elected best newcomer in la liga 2000-01, and was elected the best rightback in la liga for the 2001-02 season, he was also elected best righback in Europe 2001-02 and 2002-03 by the journalists working for ESM (La Gazzetta dello Sport, Onze Mondial, World Soccer, Kicker etc.). He was also voted into the UEFA Team of the Year 2002.

Rivaldo was injured and in poor form in 2001-02 when Puyol became a reagular, Luis Enrique never really managed to find himself after Van Gaal departure in 2000, Cucu had exactly one good season and that was 1998–99, the rest was underwhelming and De La Peña was only good for one season, 1995-96, and only decent under Robson the following year, then he disappeared and wasn't even playing when Puyol came around.