Hansi Flick has started outlining his strategy for the team and has begun identifying which players will be leaving the club. Barcelona, meanwhile, faced difficulties in scoring during their home game against Leganés, despite having three key players sitting unused on the bench.
It was particularly surprising that Flick chose not to utilize Frenkie De Jong, the team’s highest-paid player, or bring on Ronald Araújo, who has fully recovered from his injury. Even more puzzling was the decision to delay Gavi’s entry into the game until the 74th minute. By then, he was Barça’s fourth substitute, following the introductions of Fermín López and Ferran Torres.
Players Falling Out of Favor Under Flick
Hansi Flick appears to have decided that Frenkie De Jong, Ronald Araújo, and Gavi no longer fit into his vision for the team. These three players join Ansu Fati and Eric García, both of whom are expected to be sold during the upcoming winter transfer window.
Although Flick has spoken positively about De Jong in public, it is evident that his actions contradict these statements. Araújo’s situation is also concerning, as he has not played a single minute in the last two matches despite being declared fit. This strongly suggests that Flick no longer sees him as a vital part of the squad. Instead, the coach has opted to rely on Cubarsí and Íñigo Martínez, with Andreas Christensen and Jules Koundé also expected to feature once they recover fully. The club reportedly aims to sell both De Jong and Araújo for over €40 million each.
The Uncertain Future of Gavi
The case of Gavi is even more baffling. Once a regular starter for Barcelona before his injury, Gavi has been medically cleared for nearly two months but has seen limited playing time since his return. Flick appears to favor Fermín López over Gavi, even though the two players share similar playing styles. Fermín has climbed ahead of Gavi in the midfield pecking order, with Flick repeatedly opting to start or substitute him in key moments.
This development has understandably been frustrating for Gavi, who recently agreed to a contract extension with the club. However, Flick does not seem convinced by his performances and views him as an expendable asset. To date, Gavi has not played a full match and has contributed very little, including in the recent game against Leganés.
Flick has made it clear that Gavi is not central to his future plans for the midfield. Instead, he is focusing on players like Oriol Casadó, Pedri, Marc Bernal, and Dani Olmo. Flick also feels that having both Fermín and Gavi is redundant due to their overlapping skill sets, and he has definitively chosen Fermín as the preferred option.
Ultimately, Gavi’s role within the squad has diminished significantly, and it seems clear that Flick sees little room for the young midfielder in his long-term vision for the team.
