Spain National team started without a single piece from Barcelona for the first time in two years. The last time it happened was on a friendly match against South Korea, Ahead of the Euro 2016. It means that after 2 years and 103 days, no Barcelona player was selected to start amongst the Starting XI.

However, if you consider only official games, it can go up to three years. The last time the Spanish national team started a game Barcelona playerless was three years ago. Against Ukraine, as the Spanish side were already qualified for the Euro 2016.

What does it mean? In my opinion, absolutely nothing. There wasn’t much to worry about on the match of this Thursday against Wales. However, this curious fact pops up something in our minds… Are Barcelona stars getting too old?

And it’s not even only with the Spanish players. Look at Lionel Messi, for example. It seemed it was yesterday he was playing with Ronaldinho, Deco, and Iniesta. He had long hair, beardless, tattooless…

And look at the Argentine now. 5 times announced as the Best player of the entire world. He’s grown a beard also. And his arm is completely tattooed as well. He’s a man now. And by being a man, it also means to accept the fact that he’s not at the peak of his health.

I’ve taken Messi just as an example. Xavi, Iniesta, Ronaldinho, Puyol, Samuel Etoo… Everyone is already retired. Would it be the end of a cycle in Catalonia?

Let’s hope not! Barcelona are already a traditional team, and if they fall, it means that Real Madrid also will follow their path. The Spanish league would end up being more mediocre than the Portuguese one, for example.

That’s why I always say that you need to produce more players. You can even buy South American jewels, however… They will always be South Americans. Not Europeans. Europe has such a great potential to be much more than it already is. Amazing training fields, the best managers in the world… The continent cannot take more L’s against other continents.

Let’s hope they learn one day!