Barcelona sporting director Andoni Zubizarreta says promising youngster Marc Muniesa will be promoted to the first team next season.
Muniesa, 19, is a product of the illustrious Barcelona youth academy, and has already made 61 league appearances for the club s reserve team.
The defender is now expected to join the senior side in 2012/13, with Zubizarreta confident the youngster is ready to make the next step in his career.
He (Muniesa) will be part of Pep Guardiola s squad next term, Zubizarreta said in an interview with RAC1 this week.
Muniesa made his first-team debut in May 2009 at the age of 17, but was shown a straight red card during his first official appearance.
The centre-back is contracted to Barca until the end of 2013/14 season.