| p>La Masia is the heart of Barcelona youth | | | | Barcelona. He led the club to six La Liga titles, one |
| system, which located next to the Camp Nou | | | | Champions Cup in 1992 and two Spanish Cups. |
| Stadium. It was established in 1979 and now used | | | | Puyol, a native Catalunyan, is the club current |
| to develop the young players that have had to | | | | skipper and heading towards his 250th game for |
| leave their families in order to train at Barcelona | | | | the club. |
| both in a sporting and intellectual sense. | | | | However not all the graduates of La Masia |
| Apparently they have a total of approximately | | | | established themselves at Barcelona and some |
| 260 youth players learning their trade here - | | | | have moved to other clubs to advance their |
| Ninety percent of them are Spanish and more | | | | careers. |
| than 50 percent Catalans. In fact the current | | | | These have include de la Pena, Luis Garcia, Jose |
| Barca team have 12 first team players who have | | | | Manuel Reina, Mikel Arteta, Gerard Pique, Cesc |
| come from the academy. | | | | Fabregas and Albert Luque. |
| There are several youngsters that had lived at La | | | | Fabregas, also a native Catalunyan, was |
| Masia have gone on to play for the first team, | | | | persuaded by Arsenal manager's Arsene Wenger |
| such as Josep "Pep" Guardiola (academy years | | | | for a brighter and better-paid future at Arsenal, |
| 1984-90), Ivan De la Peña (1991-94), Carles | | | | and so it has proved since he joined the Gunners |
| Puyol (1994-98), Andres Iniesta (1996-2001), | | | | as a 16-year-old boy in September 2003. |
| Víctor Valdes (1996-2000) and Lionel Messi | | | | Piqué also has been snapped up by Sir |
| (2000-04). | | | | Alex Ferguson to strengthen his team. He is a |
| Pep was touted as La Masia's greatest product. A | | | | defender who not only good for his defensive |
| charismatic player who played 43 caps for Spain | | | | skills but also gets forward and scores. |
| and won a gold medal at the 1992 Olympics in | | | | |