FCBARCELONA.CAT

03.09.2007 14:28

New faces in training

Jaume Marcet/Sergi Nogueras

This Monday’s training session saw a number of the club’s youngsters training alongside the first team squad, reduced by international call ups.

Thiago, Botía, Gai, Jeffren, Víctor Vázquez and Oier joined the first team squad, which included some of the team’s biggest names - Ronaldinho, Deco, Xavi, Messi and Valdés in what for the first three was their first contact with the first team squad. Below we offer a profile of these up and coming youngsters.

Oier Olazábal

Oier is the regular Barca B keeper and joined the club last June from Real Unión d’Irun. Not 18 until 14th September, Oier was a part of the pre-season tours of Scotland and Asia, where he played 45 minutes against Beijing Gouan (0-3) and against Mission Hills XI. He made his Barca B debut this Sunday in the goalless draw against Premià.

Alberto Botía

Botía is a defender who joined from Reial Murcia in 2002 and has been a regular in the Barca B team since making his debut against Osca last season –the same game in which Bojan Krkic also played his first game. Botía was born on 27 January 1989 and is a versatile defender and a good reader of the game, who can play at centre half or in midfield as well as at right back, where he has most recently figured for the B team.

Víctor Vázquez

The 20-year-old is something of a veteran in the B team and has already figured in the first team, coming on for a few minutes in last season’s Spanish Cup game against Badalona at the Nou Camp. A creative attacker who also reads the game well, this is Victor’s second season in the B team squad.

Jeffren Suárez

Born in Tegueste (Tenerife), Jeffren is an exciting winger who’s featured in the Spanish national side at every level up until sub-20. Two years ago he formed part of the attacking trio, together with Bojan and Giovani, which won the Spanish Youth Cup. He came to Barceloan in July 2004/5 and made his first team debut against Badalona in the Spanish Cup last season.

Gai Assulin

Although he’s still only 16, Israeli born Gai Assulin, who joined the club from Natanya in the summer of 2003, is already a part of the B team squad.He rapidly moved up the youth team stages and as a right footed left-winger with speed and the ability to score, joined the B squad this season.

Thiago Alcántara

The youngest of all the players in the training session today, Thiago , born 1 April 1991, plays with the Youth A team and took part in this summer’s Champions Youth Cup held in Malaysia. A technically excellent midfielder with a killer pass, Thiago is the son of the 1994 Brazilian World Cup winner Mazinho.