{
  "id": 1540680,
  "title": "Barcelona’s Xavi Espart dilemma: a right-back with a midfielder’s game",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/17/barcelonas-xavi-espart-dilemma-a-right-back-with-a-midfielders-game",
  "topic": "culture",
  "section": "Culture",
  "published": "2026-08-17T19:00:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Yahoo Sports",
    "slug": "yahoo-sports",
    "url": "https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/barcelona-xavi-espart-dilemma-back-190000326.html"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Barcelona's young prospect Xavi Espart faces a dilemma: should he develop as a right-back or a midfielder? Espart displays exceptional skills in both positions, making it difficult to decide on a single role for his future. Barcelona has been searching for stability in the right-back position for years, with Eric Garcia being pushed towards the role, while Jules Kounde's long-term situation remains unclear. Espart's versatility could make him a valuable asset for the club, as he can adapt to different roles and positions on the field.\n\nHowever, Espart's midfield game is also impressive, displaying awareness, positioning, confidence, and the ability to keep the game moving. This natural talent in midfield could make it challenging to limit him to a right-back role and potentially hinder his growth. Barcelona must be cautious not to decide his future solely based on the current first-team vacancies. Instead, they should focus on finding a position that maximizes Espart's immense potential.\n\nThe competition for midfield spots at Barcelona is intense, with established players like Frenkie de Jong, Pedri, and Gavi, as well as promising talents like Dani Olmo, Fermin Lopez, Marc Bernal, and Rodri. In contrast, the right-back position appears to have fewer competitors, making it easier for Espart to break through. However, Espart's versatility could be his greatest advantage, allowing him to play in a hybrid role that combines right-back and midfield responsibilities. This could be the perfect fit for a player with Espart's attributes and could lead to faster integration into Hansi Flick's plans at Barcelona. Barcelona must ensure they do not squander either version of Espart's unique skills in the coming years.",
  "summary": "There are young players who make their pathway easier by having one obvious position.FC Barcelona prospect Xavi Espart might have the opposite problem. He can look excellent at right-back and then mov...",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Yahoo Sports",
        "title": "‘I’ll keep giving 100% to stay here’ – Xavi Espart talks Barcelona future after FC Basel win",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/17/ill-keep-giving-100-to-stay-here-xavi-espart-talks-barcelona-future",
        "published": "2026-08-17T23:00:00.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}