Exclusive: Michael Owen on crucial trait for success of Barcelona youngsters – ‘That’s when problems arise’

Few players have lived such a varied career in terms of settings and roles as Michael Owen, with the former England striker winning the Ballon d’Or at the age of just 21. Several of Barcelona’s young generation are arguably on track to hit similar heights, but Owen had some sage advice for a kid trying to survive in professional game.

In an exclusive interview conducted alongside DAZN Bet, Owen was asked what it was like coming through as young talent himself. Making his break at Liverpool, Owen was already taking the Premier League by storm at the age of 17, and announced himself on the world stage with his performances at the 1998 World Cup, still as a teenager.

With a number of talents in their infancy playing major roles for Barcelona, Football España asked what the experience was like making the leap initially, and some of the potential hazards that come with it.

“It’s an interesting balance. When you’re at a club, and you’re coming through the academy and approaching the first team, there will be one or two people that see you as a threat. Life is like that. People move around jobs and move into your space, and you can see them as a threat.”

“It might be that you [as the veteran] embrace that, it might mean you put in an extra bit of effort to stay above the competition. Or maybe you’re thinking I might do something to harm that. There’s lots of different emotions flying around a club when a youngster or even a new signing comes in.”

Clearly that potential for enmity is likely to be purely down to positional rivals for football, but the majority are predisposed to help youngsters make it.

“Generally, as you’re coming through, people want to help you to enhance the team. Obviously you didn’t cost anything. The club see