Xavi Espart reflects on breakthrough season at Barcelona: ‘I’m living a dream’

Xavi Espart reflects on breakthrough season at Barcelona: ‘I’m living a dream’ FC Barcelona have unearthed yet another gem from La Masia with Xavi Espart emerging as the latest breakthrough prospect from the club’s famed academy. While the teenager already made his first-team debut last season, it is in the ongoing season that he has taken a step further and established himself as a regular starter. Indeed, Espart earned his place in the first-team squad during pre-season and quickly became a starter, that too in an unfamiliar position at left-back, ahead of Joao Cancelo and Alejandro Balde . Espart on his journey Currently away with the Spanish U-21 national team , Espart granted an interview with the Spanish Football Federation’s channels “Everything has happened so quickly,” admitted the teenager reflecting on his journey so far, as quoted by Mundo Deportivo . “I’m very grateful. I’m living a dream,” he said. Espart is ‘living the dream’. (Photo by Alex Caparros/Getty Images) “My friends and family, being such big Barça supporters, are absolutely blown away. It makes me very proud to see them so happy about my achievements,” he furher added. “I’m very young and I didn’t expect to play so many minutes for Barça, but I knew that if the opportunity came, I would be capable of doing it.” From midfielder to full-back Espart featured as a midfielder with the Spain U-19s during the summer, helping them win the U-19 European Championships. But it is at full-back where he has established himself at Barça this term and joins the U-21 squad to operate in that role. “The first thing I am is a footballer. I’ve played as a holding midfielder all my life, but when I was in my second year of Cadet football, they moved me to right-back and I did well,” he explained. “I kept progressing as a full-back, but if a midfielder was missing, they could put me there. That was something they liked. At Barça, I’ve played at left-back and I can play as an attacking midfielder too. I’ve always said the important thing is to play.” “At first it was quite difficult for me. I was used to playing as a full-back and when they put me at No. 6, it took me a while to adapt, but you get used to it,” he added. Espart is a part of the Spain U-21 squad. (Photo by Francisco Macia/Getty Images) A new challenge with the U-21s Espart has quickly settled into a talented Spain squad and is enjoying the experience alongside several familiar faces. “We’ve got a fantastic team, players of excellent quality, and we get on really well off the pitch,” he said. The other Barcelona player in the squad is Marc Bernal, while Espart has also been reunited with former teammate Jan Virgili. The pair played together for the Barcelona U-19 side that won the UEFA Youth League. And Espart already has his sights set even higher. “Being there with the senior team would be incredible. That’s where the best players are. It’s something you dream about from the time you’re a child,” he concluded.