It is kind of like a kid who went to Harvard, who did not get his dream job the first time he applied. He still got to go to Harvard, and that alone is going to open up plenty of doors for him.
You're spot on that "without playing" means still training with the Cadete B team, but no games against other (non-Barca) teams. In fact, they made the point that Take was still improving while training, he just wasn't able to play in any games (and there is no prospect to do so until he turns of age now). "En los dos últimos años, en el Infantil B de Marcel Sans y el A de Denis Silva, apenas ha jugado, pero los técnicos y sus compañeros aseguran que ha seguido progresando, que sus entrenamientos son un espectáculo y que sigue apuntando muy alto." In the past two years for Infantil B, Take has hardly played but the coaches and teammates assure that he has continued growing, and his training is spectacular and he's still got a bright future.
any news on this kid? did the barca ban somehow prevent him from being called up to next weeks u15 team?
Transfermarkt has him with Cadete A, which is three levels below the reserves and four levels below the first team. After Cadete A, there is Juvenil B, Juvenil A, Reserves and then First Team. Cadete A this season mostly consists of 99's with some 00's. Lederman is a '00. Last season he was with Cadete B, so this seems like a logical progression. Barcelona's official website doesn't have the rosters for this season listed yet, but I assume he just won't be listed on the Cadete A roster, despite being a Cadete A player. Maybe he'll just train with the squad and play in scrimmages for now. Or maybe this is all wrong and he's back in the USA.
I'd keep an eye out for the Galaxy academy's updated roster for the 2015-2016 season(the rosters up right now are old).
Yeah, I also thought the same, but its strange that he's listed as having moved up a level with Barcelona. It'd be one thing if they just didn't know and had him listed on the same team as the previous season. The fact that they have him moving up a level is strange.
Fair enough, but he does seem to still be there now: http://www.marca.com/2015/08/20/futbol/equipos/barcelona/1440070024.html An article about how Barca has rescinded two contract offers, to avoid the same sanctions they've run into. In that article is also this: El camerunés Patrice Soussia, juvenil B y el norteamericano Ben Lederman, cadete A, tampoco pueden participar en la cantera azulgrana. Los dos están castigados por la FIFA. ... Ben Lederman (cadete A squad) also can't participate in the cantera... Which makes it sounds like he's still there, but still prevented from playing. (In comparison, there is no mention of Take, the Japanese player who has returned home).
I guess he is still training with whatever team he is on with Barcelona, and the club is still helping his family out. Don't know how Barcelona is really gauging his development with him pretty much only practicing, though.
Very odd that all these other foreign kids are forced to leave while Lederman sticks around. You have to wonder if they have some kind of plan in the works to try and salvage his youth career there.
Anybody know if any of these kids are Konrad or Lederman? Cadet A and Infantil B started pre-season today. (@mundodeportivo) pic.twitter.com/mf0Buv9XN5— La Masia (@Youngcules) August 20, 2015
Lederman? No, Juvenil A is U-19 level. Below that is Juvenil B which is U-17 level. He's supposed to be with Cadete A, which is U-16 level. He's about two years from Juvenil A level. The beginning of the 2018-2019 season is when he's supposed to be eligible to be registered at Barcelona. If he's still with Barcelona, that'll probably be either Barcelona B (if he's on an advanced track) or Juvenil A (if he's on a normal track).
I think he's able to play in unofficial matches, but none of their league games or other tournaments.
What percentage of U-16 players ever appear for Barca? Less than 5%? Perhaps one player per generation? What percentage actually become viable professionals? Less than 50% I'd imagine. I don't know why there are so many posts in this thread.
You may be right about the stats, but let's face it, La Masia is world renowned, so any U.S. player playing there, officially registered or not, piques the curiosity of those who follow U.S. youth players.
I'm not sure how Lederman is rated at Barcelona. It seems like he's pretty good, but Konrad actually seems to be one of the best players in the academy at his position. If we have a player that will make it at Barcelona, its probably him instead of Lederman.
Their 'rejects' still go on to be very complete players that can still add much value to any team. I am not concerned.
Many of us that follow the game enjoy the talent development and the long term process of our players even if they never play first team football for Barca. Some just follow first team football, others like myself enjoy youth development over time.
Is that true? How many never become professionals? I'm not talking players that make it to Barca B. I'm talking about your average 15 year old in the academy. From my understanding, most never receive a pro paycheck.
USAprospects @USAprospects 2h2 hours ago USAprospects retweeted John Eitel Ben Lederman out at Barca? Wonder which So Cal Academy calls first https://twitter.com/overlappingfb/status/634887049401634816… USAprospects added, John Eitel @overlappingfb Looks like Ben Lederman has officially been released from Barca http://www.aporrea.org/movil/venezuelaexterior/n276115.html…