Should Hansi Flick go all in on La Masia?

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The Barcelona academy prospects are putting on a show in preseason

That’s two big time performances and results against the two best teams in Europe for Hansi Flick and his army of young warriors.

It’s always good to pause and take a breath before drawing conclusions.

But the calendar has turned to August, which means there’s just one month left in the summer transfer window.

And just two weeks before Barcelona’s season opener against Valencia.

Hansi Flick will have one more preseason game on the American tour against AC Milan, and then the Joan Gamper Trophy against Monaco, to evaluate the talent available to him.

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Usually the Gamper is a showcase game. The main squad will be announced, and the main cast of characters get their chance to feature before the season officially begins.

Flick’s approach to the preseason, however, has been revealing.

It’s not just that he’s giving a few chances to a few young players. That’s normally the case during summer friendly games.

This time, everyone is getting a bite of the apple.

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Unai Hernández of all players got a start against Real Madrid. In the end he didn’t do much, and that will probably be the last real opportunity he gets.

Quim Junyet was the first off the bench. Who??

Everyone is getting an opportunity. It looks like meritocracy at work.

Flick is saying: Who understands my system? Go out and show it.

Pau Víctor has one foot in the door. Vitor Roque has one foot out. That’s based on their performances. Victor has produced more danger than anyone in both matches.

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Pablo Torre all of a sudden looks like he’s back on the squa. With so many midfielders injured, Flick had to give chances to forgotten players.

He seems to see something in the young Torre, who is responding in kind. Let’s not forget this guy is a set piece specialist, and really did have a lot of potential that we all were excited about a year ago.

But perhaps the most encouraging sign of all has been the double pivot partnership of the two Marcs, Bernal and Casadó.

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Adios Oriol Romeu, and all the best back in Girona.

The defensive midfielder is a high responsibility position, and there are few truly extraordinary players who can excel in the role in the world.

Marc Bernal and Marc Casadó have looked calm and mature. Different profiles, but neither is putting a foot wrong.

Álex Valle and Gerard Martín are battling it out at the full-back position. What a luxury for a club to have. Could both of them make it onto the squad?

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And that’s the question Barcelona will need to ask: How risky is it to depend on these young players?

With Valle and Martín doing so well, how critical is it really to bring back João Cancelo? And at what price?

Could Casadó and Bernal hold down the fort until Frenkie de Jong comes back?

We’ve only seen Flick use a double pivot so far, so there you go. Maybe Barcelona don’t need to find a Sergio Busquets replacement after all.

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And honestly, the midfield and the full-backs are the biggest positions of need.

Barcelona really do have plenty of forward options, especially now with the addition of Pau Víctor.

Center-backs are looking pretty good too. And I think Sergi Domínguez and Mikayil Faye could both be able backups.

The bigger question now will be, are these players better suited with their development to go out on loan? Or is it better to have them ride the bench at Barcelona, play with Barça Atlètic, and wait for their chance to break through?

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These are good problems for Joan Laporta and Hansi Flick to have.

These young players are playing with some serious confidence, and the intensity of their play has been thrilling.

But we should also keep in mind that we didn’t see the best of Real Madrid?

What happens when they have to face off against Jude Bellingham and Kylian Mbappé?

Big picture: Barça don’t have to break the bank this summer. They have plenty of internal options to fill out their squad.

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Any spending should be done with calculation and prudence. Which is what they seem to be doing in their pursuit of Nico Williams and Dani Olmo.

But some of the big Barça names on the squad need to be ready.

Because there is some serious competition coming out of La Masia.

And the cream always rises to the top.

Source: barcablaugranes.com