If Saturday’s El Clásico were decided based on the number of homegrown players on each side, Barcelona would claim a decisive win. Boasting thirteen players from La Masia, Barça eclipses Real Madrid, whose squad includes only four La Fábrica graduates. This dedication to nurturing homegrown talent remains a hallmark of Barça’s identity. In fact, nearly half of Hansi Flick’s regular starters come from the club's academy.

Cubarsí and Lamine Yamal: Rising Stars Eyeing the Golden Boy Award

Among these talents, center-back Pau Cubarsí and forward Lamine Yamal stand out. At just 17, Cubarsí has become a defensive leader, while Yamal has established himself as one of the world’s most electrifying young attackers. Both are nominated for the 2024 Golden Boy award, given to the best player under 21 in Europe. Real Madrid has two contenders as well: Turkish midfielder Arda Güler (19) and Brazilian striker Endrick Moreira (18), though neither developed in Madrid’s youth system.

Barcelona’s Focus on Development vs. Real Madrid’s Youth Recruitment

Unlike Barcelona’s dedication to developing talent in-house, Real Madrid has focused on acquiring young talent from other clubs. For instance, Brazilians Rodrygo Goes and Vinícius Jr., recruited from Santos and Flamengo, respectively, were signed at 18 and spent time in Real Madrid Castilla before joining the first team. This strategy reflects the club’s preference under Florentino Pérez, while Barcelona’s financial limitations have driven it to focus on its youth system.

La Masia: A Core Part of Flick’s Starting Eleven

Beyond Cubarsí and Yamal, La Masia products play pivotal roles under Flick. Left-back Alejandro Balde, midfielder Marc Casadó, and versatile attacker Dani Olmo are regulars, with others like Fermín López and Eric García providing valuable squad depth. Gavi and Ansu Fati are returning from injuries, while goalkeeper Iñaki Peña has stepped in for the injured Marc-André ter Stegen.

Also rising through Barça’s system are Héctor Fort (18) and Sergi Domínguez (19), both utilized this season to rest first-team regulars. Alongside this talent, Barcelona also benefits from players acquired young, like Pedri (21), who joined from Las Palmas, and is now crucial to their midfield.

As the two academies clash in El Clásico, the impact of homegrown players may well shape the outcome, underscoring each club’s unique approach to youth development.