Jakucionis preferred the United States to staying at Barça / EUROLEAGUE
The youth team is one of the jewels of FC Barcelona and the old Masia next to the field adjacent to the Camp Nou was key in convincing Andrés Iniesta to sign for Barça and not for other clubs after marvelling in a lower-category tournament with Albacete.
Since then, dozens of names from all the club’s professional teams have carried that stamp of talent and values resulting from the work of coaches and educators. However, Basketball might be an exception. Let’s see why..
In football, the primary objective is to develop players and people for the first team, although ‘making money’ is also necessary. The problem is that The threat of the voracious NBA has turned investment in quarries into a ruinous business.
As much as scouting work incorporates foreign pearls like Rodions Kurucs, Mario Hezonja or Kasparas JakucionisAs soon as they start to stand out, they cross the Atlantic and the club’s spending on those players becomes wasted money.
Barça B, after winning the EBA Cup in 2022 / FCB
What has Barça gained from Jakucionis? Some important junior championships and little else. When he was already being considered for next season, the Lithuanian has left for the United States. And what about Madrid with Garuba or Doncic? Three quarters of the same except for some preferential right in the event of a return to Europe that will end with the power forward returning to the white club.
It makes no sense to spend money on the subsidiary in a time of war economy like the current one. The biggest mistake in basketball was to ‘kill’ the junior category and force 18 year olds (even 17) to be seniors.
That said, the youth system could be necessary and important for reasons of tradition, but from there a good loan policy with the players who are really interesting would be more useful. And an exit clause to make the investment profitablealthough of course… if they are asked that, they will go to another club that does not force them to sign it.
2024-07-21 09:48:00
#youth #reserve #teams #Barça #basketball #sense
