ON THE outskirts of Barcelona, there are allotments, tiny coveted patches of soil where the urbanistas of the Catalan capital can grow fruit and veg. In a city where most people live in units and few have gardens, these nurseries are a vital connection with the land. A chance to plant seeds and see them grow. Home-grown is important in Barcelona.

The allotments line the freeway to Barcelona FC's famed training academy, ten minutes away from their stadium and the hotel. Its existence is almost mythological. The original La Masia is a modest 18th century sandstone home literally in the shadow of Camp Nou. It was the dormitory for players like Messi and Iniesta as they came through Barcelona's youth system. Like monks in a monastery, 20 of them at a time would live there as they became indoctrinated in the Barca way.

In 2011, the last youth player finally moved out of there and moved into the new La Masia, a gleaming glass and steel block in the middle of the training grounds. Now 83 players can be accommodated at any one time - but they still literally live, breathe and sleep under the giant slogan adorning the outside wall, Barca's mantra and call to prayer: Mes Que Un Club - More than a club. It's like a religion, only more important.

The training grounds are, as you'd expect, the finest you've ever seen. The full-size pitches stretch out one after another, separated by giant hedgerows to keep out prying eyes. In the vicious Spanish heat, most of them are artificial, blades of plastic grass with rubber marble soil which feels fantastic to play on - right up until the heat starts to melt your boots before the sprinklers are turned on to cool things down again.

The first day of the Nike trials is also the hottest. With the mercury hitting 40+C, the youngsters from as far afield as New Zealand and Scandinavia via the Middle East must try to impress, and with noticeably minimal drinks breaks. This is the big time and there are no favours being given - and that includes not being told what to do in your native tongue. If you don't speak the same language as the multinational coaches, you'll be relying on the international language of football to get by...

It's a tough day for our local lads. Early nerves take their toll on Devante Clut, a midfielder with Messi-like ambitions. He's just 16, but like his Argentinean hero, he wants to be playing first team football before he's even old enough to drink in bars. The West Sydney boy is not backward in coming forward on or off the field - but on the opening day of The Chance, he has a nervy start but insists he's happy with his performance. "It's very intense out there - on another level," he says. "But the way I performed and the way I handled all the other players, I'm proud of what I've done. You can't speak the same language as them, but when you have the ball, it's as if our bodies have another language of their own. Everyone can equally speak football."

Eighteen year old Kiwi striker Stephen Carmichael prides himself on his calm composure as being one of his best attributes, but on the first day, he's just too calm and composed and doesn't make a significant impression, but he's undaunted: "Everyone here is going to be good. The standard is high, but I believe in myself and I have the ability. I just need to do the simple things right."

Fullback Matthew Bilic , 18, is also from Sydney's Western Suburbs and also has a day to forget. There's a German player in his group - the 100 have been split into four groups of two teams - who looks remarkably similar to him and has been stealing his limelight on the first day. "It was hot out there as well so it was hard," he says. "But I think everyone struggled with the weather. "

Any frustrations are completely forgotten when Andres Iniesta walks onto the training ground. Yeah, that Iniesta. He joins our lads for a chat and a knockaround as they struggle to catch their breath. The look of joy and disbelief on their faces says it all... "I saw Iniesta and I was in awe," admits Clut. "I didn't know what to do. One of my role models - to be on the same field as him, meet him, let alone kick the ball with him is just amazing." Later they pose for pics with him and other Barca players like Javier Mascherano and Pedro. The magic of what they're doing and where they are kicks in. Afterwards we're whisked off to a beachside party and the day's tribulations are drowned out by dubstep and balearic beats. Tomorrow is another day...

Sadly, day two is no better. In fact, it's worse. Devante fades in and out of the trials, going for stretches when he's anonymous then rushing back into the game and trying too hard. It's merciless out on the field too - only your compatriots help you out...everyone else is simply looking after number one, even if they're on your team - and Devante has been split up from Stephen and Matthew. It's a hasty, painful lesson in trials politics. Meanwhile in the drills, Matthew is frankly having a shocker. As a defender in piggy in the middle, he's missing interceptions. As a fullback, his passes are letting him down. It's painful to watch. The boys are better than this. Stephen fares fairly well but even his touch eludes him at times in the shooting drills.

When the second day's trial ends, Devante is almost inconsolable. "I was very disappointed in the way I played," he says. "After today's session I started crying in the changing rooms. After all the experiences I've had already here, it's something I never want to lose. It's something I want more in my life than anything else."

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