Flick reveals his plans and begins to identify which players will be leaving the club. Barcelona struggled to score against Leganés at home, with three key players remaining on the bench.
It’s surprising that Flick didn’t turn to Frenkie De Jong, the highest-paid player on the team, nor did he bring on Ronald Araújo once he had recovered from his injury.
Even more surprising is that Gavi didn’t make an appearance until the 74th minute, coming on as Barça’s fourth substitute after Fermín and Ferran Torres had already been introduced.
Hansi Flick’s Excluded Players
These three players are no longer part of Flick’s plans, joining Ansu Fati and Eric García, both of whom are expected to be sold in the upcoming winter transfer window.
Frenkie De Jong’s situation is well known, despite Flick’s positive comments about him in the media.
Araújo has not played a single minute in the last two matches, even though he has been medically cleared, confirming that Flick does not consider him a key player. Cubarsí and Íñigo Martínez have taken his place, with Christensen and Koundé also in contention once fully recovered.
Barcelona aims to sell both players for over 40 million euros each. But Gavi’s situation is even more perplexing. Flick does not consider him essential.
Before his injury, Gavi was a regular starter for Barça, but even though he has been medically cleared for almost two months, his appearances have been limited.
Fermín has now surpassed Gavi in the rotation, with Flick opting for him instead. Although both players have similar styles, Flick has chosen Fermín over Gavi.
This situation is frustrating for Gavi, who has already agreed to a contract extension with the club. However, Flick sees him as expendable and is not convinced by his performances.
Gavi has yet to play a full match, and his contributions have been minimal, including in the recent game against Leganés.
Flick has made it clear: Gavi is not a central figure in his plans. For midfield, he already has Casadó, Pedri, Marc Bernal, and Dani Olmo, and believes that having both Fermín and Gavi is unnecessary due to their similar skill sets. He has made his decision.
