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FC Barcelona's player training is recognized worldwide as one of the best. Season after season, several professional players contribute to the supply of the Spanish championship.

If we know well Messi, Iniesta, Busquets, Pedri, and Gavi, on the side of the professional group of the club, other clubs also benefit from the talents of the Masia.

But lately, a decline is being felt despite the emergence of Pedri and Fati. Despite this, the values are still the same. The cliché is that the Masia player is very technical, small, and comfortable in a game favoring ball possession.

Strictly speaking, it is not wrong, but the situation allows it more. Football has changed as much as basketball in 10 years, tiki-taka may not work today, but players must all be comfortable with the ball.

For this reason, Hector managed to convince Rafa Marquez of a role as director of football while also as head coach. He will have full powers as a manager might have in England.

That's huge for someone who hasn't proven anything in the coaching world. His only experience is as the coach of Barça's B team, which is insufficient. Many fans in Mexico did not understand this choice, but Hector had to explain himself because the strategy was broader than a simple position.

Hector is not a football layman and knows what he is talking about.

"The club's strategy is entering a new phase with the development of young players at heart. Train our youngsters to have a specific style of play. Rafael will work with the new tools at his disposal to answer this. Football has never been so dissectable, making me say the game will never stop progressing. Same for basketball. »

"The intellectual reflection of athletes will become even more important. Everything will accelerate, and the players must be even more physically ready. This is also the meaning of life. »

"We had the largest recruitment network in Mexico. Whether it's data analysis or the number of recruiters, that's the first thing I order from the head of the club. Even though I'm in Sacramento most of the year, I pay attention to the club's health. I know the advantages of data. »

"Data will be at the heart of the recruitment strategy. We work with companies that provide us with data, which is rare in Mexico. But we also have our software and statisticians, our algorithms, which help us in the decisions in the club's management. »

In the NBA, that's often the case. If the player has an exciting profile, he will be observed by the scouts, who will decide if the player is suitable. Keegan Murray was drafted this way, common in the G League.

"I, Rafa, and Martin will make any purely sporting decisions. These are concise decision-making processes, and we must always stay within the budget. Once the profile is validated, we only go there to meet the player, environment, and family. »

Martin Castro is close to Hector's father, who previously worked in the G League. He made his markings at the New York Red Bulls before working at the Mexico City Captains since its inception.

He has experience in data and will not betray Hector. He is close to his father, and his son is Hector's friend, to whom Hector owes a lot. The relationship between the two families is similar to that of a support family Hector's.

"The youngsters trained at the club will have chances if they are good at playing with the pro team. We have three players who have just signed pro and will have much playing time in the coming season. Rafael will not have pressure on results. We have a World Cup in 2026, and the goal is to have at least two club-trained players on the list. »

The goal is complex because he has only three years to train a player competent enough not to shame the club at the World Cup.

"I will try not to shame the country in front of the basketball world, and I hope not to shame the fans who will travel to Azteca in 3 years. Mexico must have a team worthy of the name regardless of the sport. »

This is how Rafael Marquez's presentation press conference at Santos Laguna ends.