Hansi Flick’s name continues to be linked to Barcelona’s managerial position.
Hansi Flick is one of the coaches who is reportedly eyeing FC Barcelona as a potential replacement for Xavi Hernández next summer, once the Terrassa-born coach leaves the club on June 30th, as it stands today. The former German national team manager and ex-Bayern Munich coach, as previously reported by MD, is leading the German contingent of coaches that Barcelona’s sporting management is considering. However, there are other options, including Roberto de Zerbi (Brighton), and more complicated ones like Mikel Arteta (Arsenal) and Luis Enrique (PSG). This newspaper also reported on the movements of Pini Zahavi, Flick’s agent, during his visit to Barcelona last weekend, coinciding with the Barça-Getafe match.
According to Roger Torello of Mundo Deportivo, one of the arguments presented by some detractors of the German coach regarding his potential appointment at FC Barcelona is that he doesn’t prioritize young players and, consequently, wouldn’t promote La Masia talents, crucial for Barça, especially during the current economic challenges. However, Hansi Flick’s decisions as Bayern Munich’s coach debunk this theory. Under Flick’s guidance at Bayern, Jamal Musiala made his debut. The forward first appeared for the Bavarian first team on June 20, 2020, against Freiburg, at just 17 years and 114 days old. The following season, Flick’s last at Bayern, Musiala played a total of 26 Bundesliga matches and 870 minutes.
In addition to Musiala, who has become a key figure at Bayern and a regular for the German national team, Flick also promoted Alphonso Davies. The Canadian’s debut came under Niko Kovac on January 27, 2019, six months before Flick took over at Bayern. However, under Flick’s management, Davies quickly became a mainstay in the team during his first season. In total, he played 29 matches and 2333 minutes in the Bundesliga, setting his personal best for the six seasons he has been with Bayern’s first team, pending the conclusion of the current season, in which he has accumulated 19 matches and 1447 minutes.
Flick has already shown his trust in two young players who are now key figures at Bayern, indicating that he would likely maintain the same philosophy at Barcelona if he deems the academy players to have the necessary quality to compete.
