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August 8, 2024

Hansi Flick urges Barcelona to release a defender for their highly anticipated La Liga Debut – La Liga 2

Credit to La Liga 2 Image Gallery

After Barcelona’s USA tour, manager Hansi Flick is expected to have a more defined vision of how he wants his team and squad to shape up for the upcoming season. A seasoned defender seems to be part of his plans.

Centre-back Íñigo Martínez faces intense competition for a spot this season, but he has earned Hansi Flick’s trust. According to Relevo, Flick has requested that Barcelona register Martínez for the second year of his contract ahead of their league opener against Valencia next week. The 33-year-old, who joined from Athletic Club last summer, was initially registered only for the first year of his two-year deal.

There was speculation that Íñigo Martínez might leave, as his contract had yet to be registered. Barcelona already has seven other central defensive options: Ronald Araújo, Jules Koundé, Eric García, Pau Cubarsí, Andreas Christensen, Mikayil Faye, and Clément Lenglet. However, with Araújo likely sidelined for the rest of the year, Martínez appears to be among Flick’s top four or five choices. Barcelona kick off their La Liga campaign against Valencia at the Mestalla on Saturday, August 17th.

Photos: Barcelona Youngster’s Impressive Physical Transformation Over Two Years

Credit to La Liga 2 Image Gallery

This week, a series of images featuring a promising young talent in Barcelona’s midfield have captivated the club’s fanbase. These photos have generated considerable buzz and excitement within the community, as supporters eagerly discuss the potential of this emerging player and look forward to seeing how he will contribute to the team’s future success.

This comes after a side-by-side comparison of photos taken two years apart, highlighting his remarkable physical transformation. The images showcase the significant changes in his physique over the period, underscoring the extent of his progress and improvement.

The player in question? Gavi.

Young talent Gavi’s career took a hit when he suffered a severe knee injury while playing for Spain late last year, leading to an extended period on the sidelines.

During his recovery, the 19-year-old has focused on building his physical strength, as shown in a series of recent photos from Barcelona’s training sessions.

However, it was not until a side-by-side comparison of his physique from the summer of 2022 to now surfaced that the extent of Gavi’s remarkable transformation became genuinely evident.

Which 2 Barcelona Players Did Not Feature during the Club’s Pre-Season Tour?

Credit to La Liga 2 Image Gallery

Two young players from Barcelona’s youth setup, Alexis Olmedo and Diego Kochen, did not make first-team appearances during the club’s pre-season tour of the USA. Both players are considered promising talents and their absence from the tour has sparked discussions about their potential roles in the team’s future.

Barcelona has just wrapped up its annual pre-season tour in the United States.

Following a trio of friendly matches against top-tier teams like Manchester City, Real Madrid, and AC Milan, Barcelona has returned to its Catalan base. The team’s performance in these matches, including standout players and key takeaways, will shape their preparations for the new season.

During the two-week tour, both veteran and emerging players had the opportunity to showcase their talents. Young talents like Marc Bernal and Marc Casadó also made significant impressions.

As mentioned earlier, only two of the players selected by new Barcelona manager Hansi Flick for the tour did not make it onto the field.

Mundo Deportivo has confirmed that Alexis Olmedo and Diego Kochen are the two players who did not see any playing time.

For those who may not be familiar, Olmedo is a promising central defender, while Kochen is a highly esteemed goalkeeper.

At just 18 years old, both players, Alexis Olmedo and Diego Kochen, have a promising future ahead of them in Catalonia.

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