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Barcelona’s famous La Masia academy has found itself another rising star, as, according to a report from SPORT, 13-year-old David Moreno has been fast-tracked through the youth ranks after an extraordinary season.
Following his outstanding performances, the club has made the rare decision to promote him two categories ahead, skipping the usual step-by-step progression.
Moreno has taken grassroots football by storm. In his very first season playing 11-a-side football, he recorded an astonishing 38 goals.
Skipping ahead for greater challenges
The usual pathway for a player of Moreno’s age would see him move from the U13 side to the U14 team. However, due to his rapid development and dominance against his peers, Barcelona have chosen to push him straight into the U15 (Cadet B) squad.
This age group includes first-year cadets, which means Moreno will now compete with boys up to two years older than him.
No hi ha dos jugadors que em diverteixin més a La Masia que David Moreno. Té una sensibilitat tècnica i una lectura brillants. Talent molt gran.pic.twitter.com/qFOCfODib1
— Albert Blaya Sensat (@Blayasensat) March 15, 2025
The club believes that it is crucial to keep Moreno out of his comfort zone, as he has already shown he can handle tougher competition, performing well in matches with the U14s.
This move is aimed at accelerating his growth and testing him further in a more balanced and competitive environment.
It is worth noting that such a leap is extremely rare within the academy, especially for someone of Moreno’s playing style.
Double promotions at La Masia are typically reserved for physically dominant players or exceptional wingers. But in Moreno’s case, it is purely down to footballing intelligence, vision, and technical brilliance.
Barcelona view Moreno as one of the brightest gems in their youth system. The club is handling his development with care, but also recognises that his talent demands a quicker path.
If he continues on this trajectory, David Moreno could become a name Barça fans hear much more often in the near future, something that happened with Lamine Yamal recently.