FC Barcelona head coach Josep "Pep" Guardiola, has been forced by the World Cup to start this preseason without 10 of his players: Messi, Xavi, Iniesta, Valdes, Puyol, Pique, Pedro, Busquets, Alves and Villa.  All of them are enjoying their well deserved vacation time after an exhausting season followed by the World Cup in South Africa.

 

And while all the players are joining the team in the next weeks, Guardiola has called up 17 players from FC Barcelona B (the reserves) who will be doing the initial pre-season with the first team. These are the profiles of some of the most promising players among these 17:

 

 

Sergi Gómez Solà: 

Birthday: March 28, 1992

Age: 18Height: 5’ 11”

Place of Birth: Arenys de Mar, Catalonia (Spain)

Position: Center Back

International Career: 

 

The former Mataró player is a strong and powerful center back, he played most of last season in the “Juvenil A” team (U-19) but he was able to play three games with Barça B replacing injured Andreu Fontàs in the crucial playoff games that took the reserves to Segunda A (2nd Division). Sergi Gómez playerd 3 games and 270 minutes for Barça B in the 2009-2010 season, he also scored 1 goal with the reserves. 

 

Birthday: February 7, 1992

Age: 18Height: 5’ 8”

Place of Birth: Reus, Catalonia (Spain)

Position: Offensive Midfielder

International Career: Spain U-17 and U-19

 

Profile:

He started his career at Gimnàstic de Tarragona and moved to FC Barcelona at the age of 14, he then started climbing through the different youth teams at Barcelona Academy until he finally reached Barcelona´s reserves team Barça B. Roberto is a skillful midfielder with condSergi stands out for his versatility since even though his natural position is that of attacking midfielder, he can also play as a winger or central striker when requiered.  He played 23 games and 1786 minutes for Barça B in the 2009-2010 season.

 

Marc Muniesa Martínez:

Birthday: March 27, 1992

Age: 18Height: 6’ 0”

Place of Birth: Lloret de Mar, Catalonia (Spain)

Position: Center BackInternational Career: Spain U-15, U-16 and U-17

 

 

Muniesa already knows what’s to play in the first team in an official competition, it was on May 23 2009 in a La Liga game against Osasuna at home once the title was already decided in Barcelona’s favor, FC Barcelona ended up loosing that game 0-1 and Muniesa had a bittersweet debut since he was  shown a red card after a few minutes of play on the pitch. Muniesa is a left footed center back who can also play as a right or left back, he has a great anticipation and goog technical skills, it is no doubt one of the most promising defenders in Barcelona. He played 19 games and 1571 minutes for Barça B last season, scoreing 1 goal. 

 

 

 

 

Andreu Fontàs Prat:

Birthday: November 14, 1989

Age: 20

Height: 6’ 1”

Place of Birth: Banyoles, Catalonia (Spain)

Position: Center Back

International Career: Spain U-19 and U-20

 

Profile: 

Powerful center back, this left footed player developed his early career in his hometown team Banyoles, he then was sent on a loan to paly for a season at Girona and finally signed for FC Barcelona at the age of 18 where he joined the “Juvenil A” and later FC Barcelona B (Reserves). He was converted from defensive midfielder into left center back and his skills and playing style is more that of Márquez and Piqué than that of Puyol for example. Excellent ball control, he can send long passes with accuracy and help to start the attacking play. He is one of the most serious candidates to join the first team permanently this season if Barça doesn’t sign any replacement for Chigryinsky and Marquez. 

He made his debut with the first team on August 31, 2009 in a game against Sproting Gijon at Camp Nou which ended in Barcelona’s victory 3-0.

 

 

 

Jonathan dos Santos:

Birthday: November 14, 1989

Age: 20

Height: 5’ 11”

Place of Birth: Mexico DF (Mexico)

Position: Attacking Midfielder

International Career: Mexico

 

Profile:

He is the youngest brother of former Barcelona player and Mexico star Giovanni Dos Santos, he joined the club at the age of 12 from Monterrey. Last season he played 3 games in La Liga, one as starter, he made his debut in La Liga against Villareal on January 2, 2010. He has also has featured in four Mexico international friendly games, 3 as starter. he Mexican youngster is creative and has improved the physical side of his game considerably. His long range shots and free kicks make him especially useful for the team. 

It is maybe the more mature of all young players, having already played some pre-world cup friendly games with Mexico. He is a very creative player with an excellent ability to read the game, great passing and dribbling skills, superb ball control, powerful kick from distance and very aggressive in defense. For all that is said here a very bright and promising future for the youngest of the Dos Santos brothers.  

 

 

 

Martí Riverola Bataller:

Birthday: January 26, 1991

Age: 19

Height: 

Place of Birth: 

Position: Attacking Midfielder

International Career: Spain U-19

 

Profile: 

A 100% Barça product, he joined the FCB Escola when he was just 6 years old and progressed through the youth teams as a prodigious goalscorer, before settling in as an attacking midfielder who loves to get amongst the goals. He played 2 games and 99 minutes with FC Barcelona B last season.