FC Barcelona started its preseason this Sunday (July 13) with mostly familiar faces and a few new ones. Thus, Hansi Flick takes over his second year in charge of the Blaugrana team after a first season with a domestic treble (League, Cup and Spanish Super Cup).
As usual, the players showed up at the Ciutat Esportiva Joan Gamper for medical and physical check-ups. Also, the Catalan team is expected to hold its first double training session this Monday before heading to Asia for the preseason tour.
Barça, for now, has enough players to double the different demarcations within the field. That is why at FCBN we want to tell you how the squad is currently.
The 'overbooking' in the Blaugrana goal, a problem to solve
Barça has four goalkeepers so far and, although the summer market only opened on July 1, they know they must let go of at least one.
In principle, the new addition, Joan García, is expected to be the new owner of the Cule goal, followed by Wojciech Szczęsny (renewed until 2027), Marc-André ter Stegen (who knows of Galatasaray's interest in signing him) and Iñaki Peña (last option among the goalkeepers), so it is expected that both the Alicante native and the German will leave the club this summer.
Barça's defense, shielded, but with a doubt
Barcelona has enough players for the central zone. Pau Cubarsí, Íñigo Martínez, Ronald Araujo, Eric García (under contract until 2026; the Blaugrana entity is already working on his renewal) and Andreas Christensen complete a quintet that can give Flick effective security when making rotations.
However, neither the Uruguayan nor the Dane would have their continuity assured, as Barça needs to sell at least one of them. Juventus has sounded out the Charrua, while AC Milan and Al-Nassr have done the same with the native of Lillerod.
As for the full-backs, on the right, Jules Koundé and Hector Fort are in charge, while the left is in charge of Alejandro Balde and Gerard Martín, who has reportedly aroused interest from two clubs in England. If Martín leaves, it is likely that the board will go for another defender.
The midfield, a reliable area of Barça despite a certain departure
On the other hand, Barça faces the start of the preseason with several certainties in its engine room. Pedri, Gavi, Dani Olmo, Fermín López and Frenkie de Jong (pending reaching an agreement for his renewal) continue as fixed pieces in the plans of the coaching staff.
To them is added Marc Bernal, who returns to the team after a long injury that took him out of the 2024/25 season on the third matchday with Rayo Vallecano (rupture of the cruciate ligament with involvement in the meniscus).
Also, Marc Casadó is emerging as an interesting alternative for the double pivot, although his continuity is in doubt due to the strong interest of several Premier League clubs. As for Oriol Romeu, despite having a current contract, everything points to him looking for a way out during the summer.
Finally, Pablo Torre has defined his future: the young midfielder will join RCD Mallorca, where he hopes to have a greater role. The Culés will receive 5 million euros for his transfer.
Barça's attack, almost closed... but with a gap to fill
As for their offense, Barcelona will safely face the next season with an attack formed by Lamine Yamal, Raphinha, Robert Lewandowski and Ferran Torres. Olmo can also be used as a false '9'; Flick even did it on several occasions last season.
However, Pau Víctor would be waiting for his future, as he would not be in the club's plans, while Ansu Fati is already in France to play with AS Monaco the 25/26 on loan.
The gap to fill in the Cule attack is that second player for the left wing, which is debated between Luis Díaz and Marcus Rashford. There is still a lot of market to go through and Barça keeps both fronts open, although these are complex negotiations with Liverpool and Manchester United, respectively.
The academy as a complementary piece of the first team of Barcelona
In addition, for the first two weeks of work at the Ciutat Esportiva, Hansi Flick called up to 10 players from the academy to observe them during the preseason and who knows if from there will come the pieces that the German merits to make the team more competitive.
In this sense, these players respond to the names of Landry Farré, Toni Fernández, Guillermo Fernández, Jan Virgili, Juan Hernández, Ibrahim Diarra, Jofre Torrents, Pedro 'Dro' Fernández, Dani Rodríguez and the newly arrived Roony Bardghji, who has not been officially announced, but will be a Cule player until 2029.
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