FC Barcelona announced that the Catalan Andreu Fontàs will be playing with the first team in the 2011/12 season. His buy-out clause will be automatically raised to 30 million euros. He is another player from Barça’s junior teams that reaches the club’s main squad.
FC Barcelona’s coaching directorate has always defended the need to prioritise home grown talent and give the youngsters a chance to shine. Last week, the old Masia building closed, as a new and larger one has been built in Barça’s Sporting City. Besides, the contract extension for Thiago Alcántara is the latest example of this policy.
Andreu Fontàs will form part of the first team squad for the rest of the season. Despite being only 21, Fontàs has already had experience playing for the first team under Guardiola.
FC Barcelona completed their Champions League group campaign with a comfortable win against Rubin Kazan in Camp Nou on Tuesday evening thanks to goals from young duo Andreu Fontàs and Víctor Vázquez.