Barcelona's capture of 18-year-old Arsenal midfielder Marcus McGuane this week was part of a five-player signing spree designed to prevent their B team being relegated from the Spanish second division.
It also represented a major role reversal, with the club more accustomed to losing their best young players to the Premier League.
Barca B are currently only out of the drop zone in Spain's second division on goal difference and relegation will have dire consequences on a club that always struggles to keep hold of its best young players.
The drop in standard between the competitive second division and the four regional third tier divisions is huge and young players will have more desire than ever to leave a club that already offers few routes to first team football.