Flick found the "new Lahm": the wonderkid who surpassed Balde and Cancelo

Following Lamine Yamal, Pau Cubarsi, and Marc Bernal, Barcelona is excited about another player born in 2007. 19-year-old Xavi Espert has become one of Hansi Flick's biggest surprises at the start of the season, after starting and completing 90 minutes in the first two league rounds against Elche and Athletic Bilbao, specifically as a left-back, a relatively new position for him. Marca has already declared: "Another star is born at Barcelona."

Espert is a midfielder by training and is capable of playing as a defensive midfielder and a right-back. During the pre-season, he was even tested in more advanced positions, and he finished the last match against Bilbao in the center of the midfield alongside Rodri. This versatility is not new: in the summer, Espert was one of the standout players for the Spain national team that won the U-19 European Championship, playing in midfield throughout the tournament.

Flick was already impressed by him last season after his debut against Newcastle in the Champions League and even compared him to Philipp Lahm:

"When I see Xavi play, I really like his confidence with the ball. He reminds me of Philipp Lahm because he can play as a '6' or as a '2'. I like to see him with the ball and without it."

After the performance against the Basques, the German coach showered him with praise again:

"I really like what I see from him. I am even a bit surprised by how he plays as a left-back. He is always focused. He is a player with a lot of quality, and in one-on-one situations in defense, he is at the highest level. I am very happy with him."

Espert not only received an opportunity but also used it to climb the hierarchy. Against Bilbao, Joao Cancelo was already fit to start but remained on the bench, and Marca claimed that the youngster also surpassed Alejandro Balde in Flick's rotation. Against the Basques, he recorded four interceptions, created a scoring chance, and threatened the goal himself, after having already assisted Fermin for the fifth goal in the first round against Elche.

His teammates are also excited. "Xavi Espert is amazing," said Joan Garcia, while Cubarsi, who grew up alongside him in the youth academy, added: "You have all already seen him. He is spectacular with the ball, can play as a defender and in midfield, and always does it perfectly."

Espert has already accumulated eight appearances for the senior team: five as a right-back, two as a left-back, and one as a defensive midfielder. If the start of the season is an indication of what is to come, it seems that the player whom Flick previously dubbed the "new Lahm" has arrived at the senior team to stay.