"Flick had called Roony Bardghji over. They scored, and Ronald went down. Flick made us wait, and then suddenly he turned around and shouted, 'Xavi!' I rushed off to get my things ready so I could go on. I couldn't believe it. Once I came onto the pitch, I had a blast."
"Xavi and I have shared many moments together. He feels comfortable when he goes forward. He made a great defensive play that could have cost us a goal. He was excellent."
"Very happy to be able to fulfill this dream, debut with the team of my life on @championsleague and on @fcbarcelona Thank you so much to everyone who has been along this way and always helped me especially to my family and friends thank you for always being there for me."
Xavi Espart made his Barcelona debut as a substitute in the closing stages of a 1-1 draw against Newcastle United. Manager Hansi Flick brought him on after injuries to Alejandro Balde and Jules Kounde, having previously praised the teenager by comparing him to Germany legend Philipp Lahm. Espart was surprised to receive the opportunity but performed well defensively during his appearance. He celebrated the milestone on Instagram, calling it his dream debut. His teammates responded positively, with Pau Cubarsi highlighting his excellent defensive contributions. Espart credited his teammates' support in easing his transition to the senior squad.
Read at Barca Blaugranes
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