Barcelona academy starlet has a secret ace up his sleeve – report

Hector Fort may not have featured rather a lot this season within the FC Barcelona first-team setup underneath Hansi Flick, however there isn’t any doubt concerning the expertise and potential that he possesses.

The 18-year-old right-back, who was courted by Valencia within the winter, has performed in 12 matches for the Blaugrana this season, clocking a bit of over 300 minutes.

Sport-time has been laborious to come back by for the La Masia graduate with Jules Kounde being the undisputed starter at right-back. However Fort has a secret ace up his sleeve which could assist him enhance his state of affairs.

Fort’s versatility is usually a massive asset

Hector Fort is well-known for his potential to play as a right-back and carry out ably on the left flank as a left-back, as he did underneath Xavi Hernandez final season.

However, in keeping with SPORT, a lesser-known element about Fort is that, throughout his cadet stage, he frequently performed as a centre-back.

Certainly, between 2020 and 2022, the teenage defender alternated between taking part in as a right-back and as a centre-back in youth soccer.

Hector Fort is extraordinarily versatile. (Picture by Eric Alonso/Getty Photos)

Throughout the 2021-2022 season, underneath coach Ivan Carrasco, Fort had a incredible season, usually taking part in as a left centre-back.

Fast, alert, dominant in aerial duels, and with a aggressive spirit, {the teenager} was one of many defensive leaders in a crew the place Lamine Yamal was the primary attacking star.

Fort and Lamine had been the one two gamers from that crew to maneuver on to the Juvenil crew managed by Oscar Lopez.

Whereas Lamine shifted from a false 9 to play your entire season as a right-winger, Fort by no means returned to the centre-back place and went again to his unique function as a right-back.

The excessive variety of central defenders vying for positions within the first crew is a problem for Fort to return to the centre-back function within the quick and medium time period.

However the La Masia product could be very younger at 18 years previous, and he holds a bonus over the opposite defenders as none of them can naturally play in all 4 defensive positions.