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.