Hansi Flick puts Barcelona youngsters on alert for first-team pre-season chance
· Yahoo Sports
Club football may be on a break, but Hansi Flick has already started preparing for a very different Barcelona pre-season.
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Several La Masia players could be given an opportunity to train and play with the first team. With as many as 15 Barcelona senior players involved at the World Cup, the start of pre-season could arrive before some of the stars return.
So, according to Mundo Deportivo, some youngsters have already been told they must report to the Ciutat Esportiva on the first day of pre-season.
Others have been asked to stay physically ready in case Flick needs them during the opening phase. The German manager needs numbers before the first-team players return.
La Masia players given early responsibility
La Masia players will be heavily involved in pre-season. (Photo by PAU BARRENA/AFP via Getty Images)
Barça Atletic and Juvenil A are expected to start training later, but the players considered for first-team involvement will have to prepare individually in the coming days.
Their work will focus on fitness, prevention and strength, ensuring they can step in immediately if called.
For these youngsters, it is not merely about filling numbers. Pre-season under the German manager could be a real audition for a bigger role in the near future.
Flick’s trust could give them confidence
Last summer, Flick had a full first-team squad at his disposal but still used several academy players during the early weeks of preparation.
Ibrahim Diarra is one of the youngsters likely to be involved in first-team pre-season. (Photo courtesy: X/FCBarcelonaB)
Some of them even went on the tour, and Pedro ‘Dro’ Fernandez was the name that caught everyone’s eye. This is why La Masia matters.
When these youngsters step up to the first team, they hardly ever look out of place, and this could help Flick try out different tactical setups without worrying too much.
At Barcelona, especially in a summer like this, opportunities can arrive very quickly, and let’s see which youngsters manage to grab them with both hands and make a name for themselves this summer.