Barcelona's Sub-13 team aims to end seven-year drought at LaLiga Futures tournament

Barcelona's Under-13 team has travelled to Orlando aiming to end a seven-year title drought at the LaLiga Futures International Tournament. The competition, holding its tenth edition from October 2 to 4, brings together 14 teams at the ESPN Wide World of Sports complex at Disney World.

Coaches Jordi Pérez and Víctor Rodríguez lead a squad of twelve players who will debut on Friday against Sevilla at 15:00. Group D is completed by Betis and Villarreal, opponents in an initial phase of very short matches where luck can play a significant role. The group stage matches are played in a single 20-minute period, a format that demands maximum concentration from the very first second. Barça have won four of the nine previous editions but have not lifted the trophy since the generation of Lamine Yamal and Pau Cubarsí won it in New York. Atlético de Madrid are the current champions, having won the last four tournaments.

"Jordi Pérez is the coach of Barça's Under-13s who will try to break a negative streak in La Liga FC Futures," the manager said. The expedition, which departed on Wednesday, includes players like Teo Rodríguez, Marco Mollica, Arnau Casas, and the promising Destiny Kosiso. This generation is noted for its technical talent, though it faces the challenge of being less physically developed than many rivals.

For the club, these tournaments are primarily a great life experience and a reward for its young prospects, though the motivation to win remains strong. The first team, which leads La Liga with 21 points after seven games, serves as inspiration from afar. Following the international break, Barça's first team will resume competition with a trip to face Getafe on Saturday, October 19 at 21:00.

The quarter-finals will be played on Saturday afternoon, with the semi-finals and final scheduled for Sunday at the facility that hosted NBA games during the pandemic. The tournament promises three days of intense football where Barcelona's youth academy will seek to reconnect with glory.

First reported at Mundo Deportivo