FC Barcelona’s Squad Stability Amid Transfer Speculations
Hansi Flick, the head coach of FC Barcelona, has voiced his intention to maintain the current squad amid discussions of potential player departures this January. This comes in light of reports from ESPN indicating that the club is open to transferring players such as Marc Casadó, Ronald Araújo, Andreas Christensen, and Fermín López to improve their financial standing in accordance with LaLiga regulations.
Marc Casadó’s Complex Situation
Among the players mentioned, the situation regarding Marc Casadó appears to be particularly complex. Acknowledging that Casadó is not a first-choice player at the moment, a source has informed ESPN that sporting director Deco is under pressure to make financial adjustments. Deco reportedly considers a bid of approximately €30 million ($34.8 million) for the young midfielder as a viable option, should the opportunity arise. However, Flick firmly believes that keeping Casadó is essential for the squad’s depth, especially as he made a significant contribution last season with 36 appearances.
“I spoke with him, of course, but I don’t think that he wants to go out of the club. I also want to have him here because it will be a tough season. We need every player we have now.”
Flick acknowledged the challenge for players who are not starting regularly but emphasized the importance of every squad member in a demanding campaign.
Fermín López and Defensive Adjustments
Fermín López, another promising talent who started in Barcelona’s recent LaLiga opener against Mallorca, is also being pursued by other clubs. Flick expressed his desire to keep López, asserting:
“I don’t want to lose any players now because I think it will be a tough season… He’s doing really good last season, but also when we start here in this new season as well.”
Following Iñigo Martínez‘s recent transfer to the Saudi Pro League, Barcelona finds itself in a tighter position defensively, potentially decreasing the likelihood of Araújo or Christensen being offloaded this month. Araújo has stepped up to fill Martínez’s role in central defense, while Christensen has shown reluctance to leave despite the club’s interest in selling him for a fee before his contract concludes next summer.
Upcoming Changes and Optimism
Meanwhile, Oriol Romeu is expected to rescind his contract with the team, potentially clearing the way for defender Gerard Martín to join the squad ahead of Saturday’s match against Levante. The registrations of keeper Wojciech Szczesny and forward Roony Bardghji are still pending, but Flick expressed optimism, stating:
“I hope that Gerard is available for Levante.”
As the transfer window progresses, Flick’s commitment to preserving his squad underscores the challenges many top clubs face in balancing financial obligations with the need to maintain a competitive team.
