Aleña & Arnaiz are cut out for Barça's first team

Carles Aleña's season is following the narrative which should be followed by players tipped for big things in the academy. Ernesto Valverde took him on the preseason tour, but after that he returned to the B team and has been a key player for Gerard Lopez's side. When Valverde called him up again, for the Copa del Rey game against Murcia, Aleña did not hide. The midfielder is electric and has a lot of quality. As he showed at Murcia's La Condomina.

Still just 19, he still has a long path ahead of him to reach and consolidate himself in the first team. It won't be easy. It wasn't for anyone. Not for Iniesta, nor for Xavi. For Aleña, it won't be different. The tests are continuous and only a level-head and quality will allow him to keep overcoming them. The distractions are continuous, too, at his age, especially wearing this shirt, but the important thing is to never allow those things to affect what you do on the pitch. Aleña doesn't like he will be affected. 

The teenager is one for the first team... but when? Maybe next season, maybe the one after... Whenever it may be, Barcelona's future will be led by him. At the moment, Barça's midfielders are of a certain age: Paulinho (29), Rakitic (29), Iniesta (33). The future if for Aleña (19), without forgetting Denis Suarez (23). 

Arnaiz

Another player from the B team, Jose Arnaiz, also passed the test in Murcia. With a good grade. If in the first half he didn't appear, in the second he shone and scored a great goal, as well displaying some brilliant dribbling and skills... He put on a real show on the left wing. 

He is justifying the money paid on him this summer. It seemed a lot for a Barça B player (3.5 million euros plus variables) but it's more than justifiable given the performances he's producing. In terms of a potential, he's a David Villa...