A sense of optimism is palpable
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“We need to get a player who can win games, but we also have young players who we need to help improve,” said Hansi Flick, summarizing his plans shortly after taking office at FC Barcelona. Things are going really well for the 59-year-old in his first few weeks as coach of the Catalans. On the USA tour, Barça did not lose a single game in regular time against well-known opponents Man City, Real Madrid and AC Milan, and a spirit of optimism is palpable. And now dream player Dani Olmo is also here.
The 26-year-old European champion and Germany terror is set to become the new focal point in midfield and could become an important link for Flick, not only because of his basic knowledge of German. Barça paid 55 million euros in transfer fees to RB Leipzig, with the Catalans only spending more money on nine players. According to TM information, 5 million euros in bonuses that are not too difficult to obtain could be added. The reactions from Leipzig show how important Olmo can become.
Left-back David Raum (26) described Olmo’s departure as a “huge loss” in a media round. “He is a top player. Of course, you always like to have him on the team.” Fellow defender Benjamin Henrichs (27) stressed that he was also losing a good friend. Last year he spent his vacation with Olmo, and the families of the two professionals are friends. “First and foremost, I would miss the person,” said Henrichs shortly before Olmo signed. “But if he were to make the move, I would be very happy. Dani has brutal qualities as a footballer and he would definitely deserve it.”
FC Barcelona wants to go back to the title hunt with new coach Flick and Dani Olmo
Flick and Barça sporting director Deco also think so, as they have to build a winning team in the still difficult financial situation of the 27-time Spanish champions and 31-time cup winners. It should definitely not be another titleless season like the last one under Barça legend Xavi.
Someone who knows Flick has already made up his mind on this. “I believe that we will have a great season and at the end we will have a trophy in our hands,” said veteran Robert Lewandowski in an interview with “Sport Bild”. At 35, the Polish center forward, who scored twice in the last match of the US trip against Milan, belongs to the older generation of the Catalans, just like DFB captain İlkay Gündoğan (33) and DFB goalkeeper Marc-André ter Stegen (32).
But the young players are pushing forward. Lamine Yamal, alongside Olmo, became the top scorer of the European Championship at just 17 years old. Or Pedri (21), who had to leave the game against Germany injured after a tackle with Toni Kroos and was out for the rest of the tournament. Or Gavi (20), who is expected back in a few weeks after tearing his cruciate ligament.
The list of twenty-somethings and teenagers is even longer. 16 talents who were no older than 20 at the end of the season made it into the professional squad at least once last season. Flick took 15 youth players with him on the US trip: Gerard Martín (22), Marc Casadó (20), Ángel Alarcón (20), Ander Astralaga (20), Mikayil Faye (20), Sergi Domínguez (19), Unai Hernández (19), Héctor Fort (18), Diego Kochen (18), Alexis Olmedo (18), Marc Bernal (17), Quim Junyent (17), Andrés Cuenca (17), Toni Fernández (16) and Germany’s U17 world and European champion Noah Darvich (17).
It is the path that the club must take for financial reasons, while arch-rivals and champions as well as Champions League winners Real Madrid – albeit for free, but with a hefty signing-on fee – brought in top star Kylian Mbappé (25) and are working on the Galacticos 2.0. Or like Atlético Madrid, which is investing up to 95 million euros in world champion Julián Álvarez (24) and is approaching the spending record of 2019. But it is also the path that Barça wants to take – back to its roots. The La Masia youth academy, which once formed Lionel Messi (37), was the heart of the Catalans for years and is set to become so again.
“What I saw in the first training session was incredible. I have to thank La Masia because the way they develop the players is incredible and the quality they give us is really excellent. Normally, when you don’t have any international players available and you bring young players up, the quality drops a little, but you don’t notice that here. I said I want quality, intensity and concentration in every training session and they show me that,” Flick made clear.
La Masia, built in 1702
“This club does a fantastic job with the young players. I’ve seen how they play, how hard they work. On the pitch they know exactly where to stand and when they touch the ball they know exactly what to do with it,” said the former national coach enthusiastically, stressing that his goal was “to bring the players of La Masia to a higher level.” New signing Olmo is also expected to help with this. As a former La Masia graduate who moved to Zagreb on a free transfer ten years ago, he plays a special role.
Dani Olmo can become a role model and key player at FC Barcelona
“Olmo would be a great role model for the youth players. He believed in his talent and proved that through hard work you can make it to the professionals at FC Barcelona, even if you didn’t play in the first team as a young talent. He decided to leave Barça to get a chance and his path to get here was not easy. But after many years in Zagreb and Leipzig, he is returning as a star and outstanding player of the Spanish national team,” says Iván Fuente, Content Manager Spain at Transfermarkt. Olmo himself confirmed that he is looking forward to getting to know the other Barça players away from his colleagues at La Furja Roja. “There is a lot of quality. I am ready, I want to make my contribution and win.”
One person who made the most of his playing time under Flick on the US trip is central defender Domínguez. “La Masia can be the future of the club,” he said confidently. Casadó played the most minutes with 242 of a possible 270 and, together with U17 international Bernal (196), set the tone in the center of midfield with great confidence. Striker Pau Víctor (213), who was signed permanently from FC Girona after a year on loan with the second team and scored three goals, as well as Domínguez and his defensive colleague Martín (both 196) complete the quintet at the top of the ranking of playing minutes on the US tour. Only then does Lewandowski, a seasoned professional, follow.
Spain expert Fuente is still a little cautious about the competition. “It’s difficult to say whether Marc Casadó will make it into the first team in the end. Pau Víctor and Álex Valle also have the talent to shine in LaLiga.” The latter was a regular on loan at second division club UD Levante last season and, after returning to Barça, proved remarkably confident as a trained left-back in an unfamiliar role on the right side of defense. Fuente continued: “Even Sergi Domínguez could have a chance due to Ronald Araujo’s injury and Barcelona’s financial situation.”
For example, Barça is still worried about Olmo’s timely registration for the game. According to “Cadena SER”, this is currently not possible due to the Financial Fair Play regulations. The first game of the season is in just five days against FC Valencia (9:30 p.m.). According to the report, player sales are the only solution, but there are no concrete departures in sight. The focus for further reinforcements – if possible – is on the wings. While signing Nico Williams (22) from Athletic Bilbao is complicated, a loan of Kingsley Coman (28) is an option. Flick values the Frenchman from their days together at FC Bayern, where he played 63 times (31 scorers) under him.
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The German coach wants to get his squad and the talents on track for the season with clear rules like the one under Luis Enrique. In addition to absolute punctuality, daily weighing is also part of this, the Madrid sports newspaper “AS” recently reported under the headline: “Flick sets the standards again.” Olmo knows the German discipline and corresponding virtues from Leipzig, as well as the energy-sapping pressing, which Flick does not want to deviate from despite the Tiki-Taka style of play in Barcelona, nor from the favored 4-2-3-1 system. Here, too, Olmo could prove to be an important difference-maker.
I don’t really understand it. Nico had already made his position clear before the Olmo transfer. When he started training. He is looking forward to the coming season with Bilbao. It couldn’t be clearer. Now the number 10 and the statement that he is proud to wear the number.
To me it clearly looks like Nico has decided to stay in Bilabo for at least another season.
Just because the media spreads rumors doesn’t make them true.
So far I have …
