Barcelona B have faltered since finishing 3rd in La Segunda in 2013/14. Here, we take a look at how the midfielders of that squad has fared since then.
There has been much consternation over the state of La Masia and the perilous path youth players dream of walking from Mini Estadi to Camp Nou. The last great Barça B side - which finished 3rd in the 2013/14 Segunda División - contained a plethora of highly-rated youngsters. In five parts, I'll take a look at how players of that year's Barça B squad have fared since then. Parts one, two, and three looked at the goalkeepers, centre-backs, and fullbacks. In part four, we'll review the midfielders of that squad.
Ilie Sánchez
Ilie Sánchez spent his youth career playing for numerous teams in Catalonia. This includes a two-year spell at La Masia, before he eventually returned as a teenager. Promoted to Barça B in 2009, the Barcelona native was one of the side's captains in the 2013/14 season. A defensive midfielder by trade, Ilie Sánchez spent the year playing in both his usual position as well as in central defence. Five yellow cards in thirty-eight appearances reads well for a defensive player, with Ilie even contributing in attack with two assists. Ilie was, simply put, a stable presence in a successful Barça B side. With no scope for promotion to the first team, Ilie left Barça in 2014 for German second division outfit 1860 München. He spent 2015/16 on loan at Elche, and currently plays for MLS side Sporting Kansas City.
Agostinho Cá
Agostinho Cá left his homeland ─ Guinea-Bissau ─ to join Sporting Clube de Portugal's famed youth academy in Alcochete in 2009, at the age of 16. After three years with Sporting, Cá signed for Barça B alongside then-Sporting teammate Edgar Ié. The ex-Portuguese youth international made his Barça B debut in October that year, coming off the bench in an away win against SD Huesca.
After a lack of playing time in the first half of 2013/14, due to a meniscus injury, Cá was loaned to fellow Segunda División side Girona in January 2014. Unfortunately, he ended the campaign with just eleven minutes on the pitch, all of them coming in a substitute appearance for Girona against Lugo. As things did not improve upon his return to Barça B for 2014/15, Cá joined Segunda División B side Lleida Esportiu on a season-long loan in Summer 2015. A trial at Parma in September 2016 was cut short by a knee injury. Agostinho Cá currently plies his trade in Lithuania with FC Stumbras.
Sergi Samper
One of the gems of La Masia from an early age, Sergi Samper joined Barça in 2001, at the age of 6. After spending the entirety of his youth career in Blaugrana, Samper signed his first professional contract with the club in May 2013. The prodigious midfielder could have left the club along with then-Masia teammates Héctor Bellerín and Jon Toral when the two signed for Arsenal in 2013.
Samper made forty appearances in 2013/14, completing the full ninety minutes in the majority of them. His performances cemented his potential as being undoubtedly one of the best prospects in his age group, having converted promise into reality at a professional level. In September 2014, Samper made his first team debut, playing from start to end in a home win against Cypriot outfit APOEL Nicosia in the UEFA Champions League. With Spain, the Catalan moved from the U-17s through to the U-21s between 2011 and 2014.
With more than a century of appearances for Barça B, the team's relegation in 2014/15 meant he ended up being loaned out ─ after spending 2015/16 as team captain in Segunda División B, Samper joined La Liga side Granada CF in Summer 2016. At the time of writing, he has made twenty-two league appearances ─ thirteen starts ─ for Granada.
Edu Bedia
Edu Bedia joined Barça B on a free transfer at the age of 24, with first team experience at hometown side Racing Santander, and Hercules CF, under his belt. In 2013/14, the central midfielder featured on thirty-nine occasions, clocking an impressive minutes total of 3021. A steady presence in the team, he contributed with seven goals and two assists. After a year at Barça B, he left the club in Summer 2014, moving to 1860 München alongside Ilie Sánchez. After spells with 1860 Munchen and Real Oviedo, Edu Bedia currently plays for Real Zaragoza in the Segunda División.
Denis Suárez
Having come through the Celta de Vigo cantera, Denis Suárez joined Barça B from Manchester City in Summer 2013. He was a valuable source of creativity for the team in 2013/14, with seven goals and eleven assists in thirty-six games. Between 2010 and 2014, Suárez was a consistent presence for Spain at youth level, from the U-17s through to the U-21s. Having proven himself ready to make the step up from Barça B, Suárez joined Sevilla on a two-year loan deal in Summer 2014. The loan was cut short after a year, with him being sold to Villarreal. A brilliant 2015/16 campaign as a key player for Villarreal led to Denis Suárez returning to Barça, via a buyback clause, in Summer 2016 as a full-fledged first team player.
Wilfrid Kaptoum
Wilfrid Kaptoum joined La Masia in 2008, his move a product of the link between Barça and the Samuel Eto'o Foundation. Other than a short spell on loan at Sant Andreu in 2009, the Cameroonian spent his whole youth career with Barça. He spent 2013/14 with Juvenil A ─ alongside familiar names like Munir El Haddadi and Adama Traoré ─ featuring regularly as Barça's U-19s won the UEFA Youth League, beating Portuguese powerhouse Benfica in the final. His reward for an impressive season was a place on the Barca B bench in May 2014. Kaptoum eventually made his Barça B debut, against Osasuna, in August 2014. His first team debut came in October 2015, in the Copa del Rey under Gerardo 'Tata' Martino's watch. The Copa del Rey has held most of Kaptoum's career highlights thus far. His first goal at senior level came in February 2016, an equaliser against Valencia in the semi-final 2nd leg at the Mestalla. Kaptoum is currently still learning his trade with Barça B, who have won their group in the Segunda División B this season ─ the team now have a chance of returning to the second tier if they win the promotion playoffs.
David Babunski
A standout talent with Catalan side UDA Gramenet, David Babunski joined La Masia in 2006, aged 12. Moving through the age groups, Babunski was promoted to Barça B in Summer 2013. The Macedonian playmaker made nineteen appearances in 2013/14, scoring once ─ a 4-3 win over Alcorcón at Mini Estadi. Babunski remained a Barça B player until his contract was terminated by mutual consent in January 2016. He signed for Serbian giants Red Star Belgrade that same month, going on to win the Serbian SuperLiga. David Babunski has been a regular on the international scene with Macedonia, from U-17 through to senior level. He currently plays for Yokohama F. Marinos, signing for the Japanese side in January of this year.
Pol Calvet
Sant Cugat native Pol Calvet signed for Barça at the age of 14 in 2008. After a promising youth career, the central midfielder was promoted to Barça B ahead of the 2013/14 season. He was a squad player that year, making ten appearances in the league. With little prospect of progression at Barça, the ex-Spain U-17 international joined Deportivo La Coruña B in January 2016. He is currently a free agent after a short spell at UE Llagostera.
Javi Espinosa
Javi Espinosa joined La Masia in 2005, at the age of 12, moving from his hometown in Castilla-La Mancha. After a smooth progression through the ranks, Espinosa was definitively promoted to Barça B in Summer 2011. The ex-Spain U-17 international was a regular during the 2013/14 campaign, scoring seven goals and providing six assists in thirty-seven games. With little prospect of promotion to the Barça first team, Espinosa left on a free transfer for Villarreal in Summer 2014. After loan spells at Almería and Elche, he is currently a first team regular for Levante, who have won promotion to next season's Primera División.
Jordi Quintillà
Jordi Quintillà, older brother of Xavi Quintillà, spent the majority of his youth career with hometown side UE Lleida. In 2009, he joined Barça. After three years in La Masia, Jordi was promoted to Barça B in June 2012. Due to a lack of playing time prospects, he was loaned to third tier side CE L'Hospitalet for 2013/14. Jordi Quintillà currently plays for North American Soccer League outfit Puerto Rico FC, after spells with French side Ajaccio and in the MLS with Sporting Kansas City.
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