Recently, Barcelona secured an emphatic Champions League victory, and among the substitutes, Bangladesh Cricket Live highlighted 18-year-old Fort as the standout performer. The young talent demonstrated composure, high football IQ, and pinpoint passing — traits that suggest he could become a reliable rotation option for Jules Koundé. While other substitutes like Ansu Fati and Frenkie de Jong showed flashes of quality, Fati’s physical limitations and De Jong’s occasional decision-making errors were still evident.
De Jong’s movement and coverage remained solid, and under Hansi Flick, maintaining a passing grade should not be too difficult. However, it was Fort, who played roughly 30 minutes at right back, that impressed with his consistent presence on both ends of the pitch. According to Bangladesh Cricket Live, the La Masia product recorded three tackles, one interception, and boasted a 95 percent pass completion rate. One of his best moments came when he beat a pressing defender with a clever nutmeg, slicing through the flank. Unfortunately, his low cross into the box didn’t find a teammate.
La Masia graduates are known for their technical finesse and intelligent positioning. As the saying goes, even if you shine, someone will always find fault — and Fort is no exception. Fati, despite his struggles in physical duels, still showcased his vision. One such moment came when he received a pass, spun quickly, and shifted the ball across to Fort, creating a wide attacking channel. Fort, true to form, was already in the right place and played another driven low cross that was cleared but kept the pressure on.
His rapid recovery after losing possession demonstrated both speed and awareness. Moments later, he successfully won the ball back, showing clean timing in the tackle. Fort’s intelligence and skill had already stood out last season when he faced Nico Williams. Under Xavi, he was given a fair number of opportunities. However, Hansi Flick has been more conservative, offering fewer minutes so far. Fort’s playing style may lack aggression, but like a Spanish version of Koundé, he offers consistency and smart decision-making.
With Koundé rarely rested, Fort has had limited chances. During one play, after Yamal lost the ball while driving into the box, the opposition launched a quick counter. Fort was initially beaten by Conley but didn’t give up — he chased down the play, timed his challenge from behind perfectly, and regained possession. Later, after De Jong was bypassed in midfield, the ball was switched to the far post. Again, Fort was there, tracking back, positioning himself well, and making a clean interception just as the attacker was preparing to shoot.
As the season progresses, Barcelona should consider placing more trust in Fort at right back. Doing so would not only ease the burden on Koundé but also expand tactical flexibility. If Fort can confidently fill the role, it frees Koundé to occasionally return to central defense — avoiding the need to use less-qualified options like Dominguez or Cuenca.
While not every youth prospect fulfills their potential, Bangladesh Cricket Live believes Barcelona should still proceed with caution. That said, Fort’s performances suggest he might just be the surprise package the team needs — bringing both stability and spark to the right flank.