With Hansi Flick's regulars unavailable for the start of pre-season, academy stars stepped up for their first game against CE Europa.
One of them, 19-year-old Alex Gonzalez, scored one and assisted another in the win over the minnows following his introduction off the bench.
Gonzalez has a remarkable story, considering he was on the books of CF Damm in the Catalan league as recently as in February, five months ago.
From CF Damm To Barcelona In Just Five Months
Born in 2007, Alex Gonzalez Yanes was on the books of the youth side of Catalan club CF Damm as a youngster.
The right-footed left winger scored 12 goals in 22 appearances for the club in their season, catching the eye of Barcelona in February 2026.
The Spanish giants took him in, and in April 2026, handed him his Juvenil A debut and a contract until 2028.
Gonzalez was never came through La Masia or any elite academies in his formative years but earned a place in the academy as a 19-year-old.
Three months on from his debut for the U-19 team, the winger was called up by Flick to join in first-team training ahead of the return of the regulars.
Gonzalez has handled the significant leap from playing for the youth team of a regional club to competing under a UEFA Champions League-winning manager very well.
Who Is Alex Gonzalez?
Alex Gonzalez is an associative winger that likes to use combination plays to get opportunities to find the net.
The teenager is not one known for his tricks on the ball like many of his peers or his use of blistering pace to leave defenders for dead.
He prefers to move off the ball, finding space with his movement to produce devastating results in the opposition penalty area.
Gonzalez is capable of playing all across the front line, even if his preferred position is on the left wing.
In many ways, Gonzalez is quite similar to new signing Anthony Gordon, particularly due to his constant movement to find space rather than waiting for the ball to get to his feet.
The young forward plays bravely, as he mostly looks to take responsibility and drive the ball into high-danger areas, rather than just keeping the ball. This characteristic, in particular, is one that Flick values very highly in his forwards.
Why Barcelona Must Be Patient With Alex Gonzalez
Gonzalez is no Lamine Yamal or Lionel Messi, and must not be pressured into thinking he must produce similar performances to those players.
The media often pressures young players from top academies into thinking that they must compete with numbers put up by former academy stars or risk falling under the radar.
Gonzalez performed excellently against CE Europa, a third-tier side, but it does not automatically translate to being able to influence games against La Liga or UEFA Champions League opposition.
The 19-year-old should realistically be allowed to play for the B-team, Barca Atletic, as the next step of his development in the 2026-27 season.
He will be well-protected from the media hype train and improve at his own pace without millions keeping tabs on his every mistake.
