Ernesto Valverde examines Barcelona academy La Masia

Goodbye to reference points like Iniesta and Xavi. The departures of some of the fathers of the methodology (the Barca language) has put La Masia under the microscope.

The club insist the intention is the same, maintaining the essence, the idea of a team formed by players who learned how to play here with a recognisable style of keeping the ball.

There are less romantic reasons too: Barcelona have problems with paying too much in salaries and Barca B players could be a good option to help with one foot there and another foot in the first team.

Not even the distance between the top flight and Segunda B is seen as an unjumpable gap; if the player has high level of talent and has been taught correctly, he can have his role in the squad.

That is how Valverde sees it, who has been ‘casting’ young players in the last few days. The coach is giving chances to an open group - Cuenca is the only player who has been in all the sessions.

A formula that allows a number of footballers to try and get on the squad list for the tour of the United States.

“I don’t want a big squad, because I want to leave space for the young players to come up from the youth team,” said Valverde. But that is not what is happening.

Barca currently have a first-team squad of 29 players. Obviously in the next few weeks the situation will change. But it also seems unlikely that the squad will be as light as Valverde wants it.

In the last few weeks there has been a bit distance between expectations - what the club wants in terms of sales - and the reality of the market.

Two players, Arthur and Lenglet, have arrived, but no big sales have been made. The coach’s idea is clear: the core of the starting XI will be that which won the double last season, and the chances to give minutes to youngsters will come when the squad is cut.

Priorities are also being selected. This year the Champions League is important while the Copa del Rey will not be as highly focused on. That is where Valverde may be able to play his young players.

“A squad of 20 to 22 players is good for me,” said the Ant last season, which would give him a chance to use younger players. That’s what he did at Athletic, where Iraola, Llorente, Inaki Williams and Kepa came through under him. At Barca he has been more conservative. If there is someone in the youth team he’s shown a predilection towards, it is Carles Alena. And he did not like it when Riqui Puig seemed like he was going to leave.

On the tour of the USA, he will examine La Masia.