'That's what happiness is' - Ivan Rakitic hails La Masia and gives his verdict on Barcelona's Champions League hopes

"It's not just him, it's the whole team. I think if we go through it line by line, there's a future for growth right now. Barça can field a starting eleven with homegrown players."

"They're just kids, because I don't know if they're over 22 or 23. It's amazing. That's what happiness is. That's what Barça is all about."

"It shows the importance of the academy, La Masia, and all the coaches who work behind the scenes, whose importance is often underestimated."

"With them, a kid who goes to Barcelona at nine, ten, or eleven years old has the plan that by 18 or 19 he can end up in the first team. That's happening."

Barcelona's potential for growth is evident through its ability to field a starting eleven comprised of homegrown players. Many of these players are young, under 23, showcasing the success of the academy, La Masia. The significance of the coaches and staff behind the scenes is often overlooked, yet they play a crucial role in developing talent. Young players who join Barcelona at a young age have a clear pathway to the first team by their late teens, demonstrating the effectiveness of the club's development strategy.

Read at Barca Blaugranes