Barcelona breakout midfielder reflects on an eventful summer – ‘They told me Flick had confidence in me’

As the summer of 2024 unfolded, few could have predicted that Marc Casado would emerge as a key player in Hansi Flick’s revamped FC Barcelona squad.

Once facing the uncertainty of a contract expiration, Casado has swiftly transformed into the team’s driving force on the pitch.

The midfielder’s youth has not hindered his ability to assume leadership roles, culminating in his recent selection for the Spanish Under-21 national team.

During a recent interview with MARCA, Casado reflected on his journey over the past few months, discussing how he kept his focus on club commitments despite not earning a call-up to the youth national teams for almost five years.

“I played with my club and tried to do the best I could. If the opportunity arose, great. If not, my idea was to keep working with my club,” he said.

Despite many of his teammates receiving national team call-ups, he remained patient. “I knew what I had to do with my club and had to wait for the opportunity. I was glad to finally receive it,” claimed the Barcelona youngster.

It was a hectic summer for Casado, who went from facing the disappointment of missing out on promotion with Barça Atletic to signing a new contract with the club and then becoming a part of the first-team setup.

Reminiscing the whole experience, the youngster shared: “It started quite late for me because we had playoffs in Cordoba with the reserves. We couldn’t get promoted, but a week before the final, I renewed my contract with the club.

“They told me Flick had confidence in me, that he liked what he saw, but he wanted to see me in person during pre-season. I started pre-season with a lot of eagerness to show the coach that I could perform well on the pitch.”

This season has seen a strong start for both Casado and Barcelona, with the youngster himself emerging as a key player in the scheme of things. Acknowledging that he is indeed pleased with how things are going, the La Masia gem said:

“I’m very happy with how the season has started for me and for the team. We’re all doing very good work, and it’s showing on the field.”

Casado’s first official start, alongside Marc Bernal on the latter’s debut, at the challenging Mestalla stadium against Valencia marked a pivotal moment.

“It was in the pre-match talk that we learned we would be starting together. I hadn’t spoken much with the coach beforehand – just football matters,” he said, reflecting on that moment.

“I felt calm; I had played the previous year with Marc in the reserves, and we prepared well together during pre-season.”

Casado described the heightened pressure of an official match after having been regularly involved in the summer pre-season friendlies, saying:

“It was a more demanding game at a tough venue like Mestalla. It was Marc’s official debut and mine as a starter. We both felt good, and the important thing is that we won.”

Managing such responsibilities at a young age, Casado credits the club’s youth system.

“You try to do what you’ve been doing for many years. The club prepares us very well in the lower categories for when these opportunities arise,” he said.

The Spaniard also praised the commitment to youth development within Barcelona, as he said:

“The work with the youth academy is excellent. It’s evident with the players coming through. Youngsters aged 17 and 18 are playing in the first team, and you can see they’re perfectly prepared.”

The midfielder also highlighted that support from veteran players has also played a crucial role in his adaptation.

“There’s a great atmosphere in the dressing room, and you can feel it on the field. There’s a strong bond among the players, which is beneficial for the team. The blend of veterans and young players is coming together well.”