At a glance
- Robert Lewandowski, Marcus Rashford, Marc Casado, Alejandro Balde and Ronald Araujo could be five players fighting for their FC Barcelona futures.
- How Hansi Flick uses them could be an indicator on what future they have at the Spotify Camp Nou.
- Barca currently lead La Liga by nine points with six games remaining.
Another FC Barcelona campaign is drawing to a close. While European glory once more slipped away, it’s looking like Hansi Flick’s men will dominate domestically once more. Barring any major slip up, a Spanish Super Cup and La Liga double should compliment the treble of his first term.
Barca wrapped up the former title in January by beating Real Madrid in the final. Once more, they can pip Los Blancos to the Spanish top flight crown by winning a May 10 episode of El Clasico.
With six matches to spare, though, there’s a group of five Blaugrana stars fighting for their futures. How Flick deploys them might say a lot about how he views their cases heading towards 2026/2027.
Robert Lewandowski – about to leave Barcelona as a free agent?
The Pole’s terms expire on June 30, and he’s yet to receive a renewal offer as reported by Reshad Rahman. He didn’t receive a single minute against Celta Vigo in the 1-0 win midweek, and was a substitute in the tragic Champions League quarterfinal second leg at Atletico Madrid before that.
As things stand, a move to Italy looks probable. But we’ll see who Flick prefers between the number 9 and a Ferran Torres whose confidence is improving. Despite his reduced role, a return of 12 La Liga goals, putting him close to matching an all-time veteran record, isn’t too shabby.
Marcus Rashford – Deco prefers another winger for Barcelona
As also reported by Reshad Rahman, Deco prefers the €30 million it would take, and then some on top, to buy another winger over making the Manchester United wideman’s loan from Manchester United permanent.
Rashford looked to be taking the golden opportunity afforded to him by Raphinha’s injury. He scored an important equaliser against Atletico Madrid, during a 2-1 La Liga win key to the title race.
Yet sitters missed in the first leg of the quarterfinal the Rojiblancos won 2-0, and other flattering performances, see him drifting away from the first XI.
Flick choosing central midfielders (Fermin then Gavi) for the left wing against Atleti and Celta Vigo respectively in Barca’s past two outings is a clear indicator of what the German thinks about the Englishman.
Raphinha will be back soon too, meaning Rashford’s chances to impress are diminishing by the hour.
Marc Casado – from Barcelona to Saudi Arabia
One of Flick’s main promotions from the Barca Atletic B team to the seniors along with Marc Bernal in the summer of 2024, Marc Casado never recovered from the return of Frenkie de Jong to the fold.
Not even Bernal’s recent absence has brought improved prominence. And it’s already been reported that Casado has instructed his agent to listen to offers this summer.
There have always been links to Atletico Madrid, but Saudi Arabia has also emerged as a possible next destination. With Barca needing to seal the league, it’s likely Flick goes for Pedri and De Jong in midfield, or perhaps Bernal, making his predicament unlikely to change.
That’ll be a clear message there’s no space for Casado. At 22, he needs to play more and adopt a Pau Victor-esque attitude to seek pastures new. A Culer through and through who celebrated last year’s La Liga title win at Canaletes with the fans, this exit will hurt.
Ronald Araujo – where does he fit?
Neither a first choice centre-back nor a full back, Ronald Araujo has just four starts in the last nine games. In the middle of the back line, the Uruguayan has no chance of breaking up a Pau Cubarsi-Gerard Martin partnership when both men are fit.
At right back, it’s now Jules Kounde again while there’s other competition from Eric Garcia and Class of 2007 La Masia graduate Xavi Espart.
Coming on in the 89th minute in the Metropolitano second leg, his past history of blunders and red cards mean Araujo can’t be trusted in high-stakes European affairs making him a secondary player.
This might be the summer that Barca finally cashes in on him in the Premier League.
Alejandro Balde – most like to stay at Barcelona
Offers from the English championship are never too far away for Balde either. But as already explored, it’d take something extraordinary for Joan Laporta to buckle and sell a prized La Masia asset.
Joao Cancelo had been gradually pushing him out of the fold even before his muscle left hamstring injury. But now, since returning, Balde continues to be frozen out.
These remaining games serve more to see if he can win his place back rather than communicating he’s surplus to requirements, though.
Perhaps the Clasico will be the biggest nod on who Flick fancies most at this moment in time. Whether Cancelo’s loan move from Al-Hilal is made permanent remains a huge factor too. But Balde is likely to stick around to have at least two quality options in the left back position.
