Josué Caicedo makes debut with Barcelona B in first match

Josué Caicedo made his debut with Barcelona B on Saturday in the Trofeu Ciutat de l'Hospitalet. The 18-year-old Ecuadorian left-back, on loan from LDU Quito with a purchase option of €2.5 million, played the final 30 minutes of the match after replacing Landry Ferré in a 1-2 away victory, according to Mundo Deportivo.

Caicedo's arrival was delayed due to administrative procedures, but he finally trained with the B team for the first time last Tuesday and signed his contract the following day in the presence of José Ramón Alexanko, director of Barcelona's academy. In his debut, he impressed both defensively and in attacking contribution.

Manager backs the Ecuadorian youngster

Belletti, Barcelona B's coach, praised the debutant after the match: "It's his debut and we need to manage his workload. We know what he's capable of and little by little he'll gain confidence." The Brazilian manager also stressed that the full-back needs to be ready for the league's start: "When the day comes for his league debut, he has to be prepared. If he's here, it's for a reason and we need to make the most of it."

Caicedo, standing 1.80 metres tall, already has professional football experience: he played seven matches in the Ecuadorian LigaPro Serie A and debuted in the Copa Libertadores against Always Ready. His ability to cover the flanks and defensive intensity are his key strengths. He is now the only natural left-back option in Barcelona B's squad, which aims for promotion to Primera Federación this season.