Fabio Blanco tactical overview

 

Cartera sobre cantera"

Loosely translating to money over the academy in English, these three Spanish words perfectly encapsulate Josep Maria Bartomeu's tenure as Barcelona president.

Thanks to this philosophy, FC Barcelona's academy has been a fishing net with a large hole over the last few years. A plethora of young talents have either left in search of chances to play elsewhere, or refused to join, owing to the low amount of minutes offered to them. Signings have also been lacking, with little to no regard for the team's requisites and style of play. This has resulted in a below average "B" team this year, with several of last year's stars now either in the first team, injured, or no longer at Barça.

Joan Laporta and Xavier Hernández's arrival has seemed to change this idea, with Fabio Blanco's arrival to Barça B from Eintracht Frankfurt confirming that. Part of the Spanish 2004 generation that includes names like Pablo Páez "Gavi", Ilias Akhomach, and Ángel Alarcón, his arrival fits perfectly into Xavi's current ideology of using wingers to stretch the field.

Right footed and with the ability of easily taking on players, the Catalan giants are securing in the 17-year-old a player with heaps of potential in a position he can certainly make his own, being a good mixture of Akhomach's technique and Alarcon's power. Although capable of playing on both wings, he is more comfortable playing on the right, a position in which he could find competition from Abde Ezzalzouli and Ilias.

At nearly 5'9, Blanco's height is more than enough for a carrilero [winger]. Although his physique does not particularly stand out, he is more than capable of shrugging off players while slithering through the defense.

Coming off the back of an underwhelming season with Die Adler in which any promises of playing time with the first team have not been kept, he will be looking to impress Xavi in a bid at finally playing some minutes in top level football. One can only hope that he succeeds in doing so, as the right wing is one the Spanish gaffer will undoubtedly be looking to strengthen with Ousmane Dembele's pending departure.