According to a report by Barca Universal on Friday, October 16, 2026, Barcelona have appointed former Getafe academy scout Javier Madrid to strengthen their youth recruitment network, with a particular focus on identifying promising young players in Madrid and Castilla-La Mancha.

The 28-year-old is expected to join Barcelona's scouting department after spending four years overseeing youth recruitment at Getafe, according to ESPN journalist Rodra. Madrid also has coaching experience with Getafe and Rayo Vallecano, making him a valuable addition to Barcelona's efforts to discover emerging talents.

During his time at Getafe, Madrid worked with several young players, including Real Madrid prospects Thiago Pitarch and Mario Rivas. He also helped Getafe secure the signing of highly rated 12-year-old David Sanchez Miralles last summer.

Barcelona are continuing to expand their La Masia recruitment strategy as they look to strengthen their youth teams and compete with their domestic rivals. The club has increasingly focused on identifying talented players outside Catalonia, particularly in areas where they compete directly with Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid.

Madrid's appointment reflects Barcelona's growing interest in recruiting young footballers from across Spain. The Catalan club have also signed Byron Mendoza and Víctor Barbany from Leganes, as well as Marcos Parriego from Rayo Vallecano, as part of their wider recruitment efforts.

Madrid will work alongside Jon Andoni Goikoetxea, a former footballer who spent six years working within Barcelona's scouting structure. The club hopes their combined experience will improve its ability to identify promising players before rival academies secure their signatures.

Meanwhile, Real Madrid are also targeting young players in Barcelona's traditional recruitment territory. The Spanish giants have signed Iker Doblas and Clifford Nana from Catalan academy CF Damm this season.

Both clubs are increasingly extending their scouting operations into each other's regions as they compete to recruit Spain's most promising young footballers. Their latest moves underline the growing battle between Barcelona and Real Madrid to secure talented youngsters before they develop into established stars.