Barcelona’s 17-year-old prodigy could stand to benefit from Hansi Flick appointment

With Hansi Flick’s appointment as FC Barcelona manager set to be made anytime now, the German tactician’s arrival will mark the start of a new era at the club.

The 59-year-old taking over the reins will also have an effect on the club’s transfer plans while also impacting the futures of some of the current players in the team.

As has already been reported, Flick is an admirer of La Masia and has been closely monitoring the youth and reserve teams in the past few months, suggesting that youngsters will continue to get a shot on the big stages.

Noah Darvich could benefit

As such, SPORT reports that Flick taking over the reins could come as good news for Barcelona youngster Noah Darvich in the coming season.

Flick has spent months studying the resources he has in the youth academy and Darvich is a name on his radar. The former German national team coach knows his compatriot, one of his country’s most promising young players, very well.

Darvich has had a season of adaptation at Barcelona. (Photo by Aitor Alcalde/Getty Images for DFB)

Darvich was the captain and one of the stars of the Germany U17 team and in recent months he has made the leap to the U18s, where he is an important player.

Having signed for Barça in 2023, the German prodigy has had some issues in adapting to the 4-3-3 of the reserve team, a system in which he often has to play more as an interior midfielder than as a No. 10.

Used to playing as a playmaker in his country, Darvich has struggled to familiarise himself with a more positional game and has not been able to establish himself in the starting XI under Rafa Marquez.

However, Flick’s potential switch to a 4-2-3-1 formation may suit Darvich’s characteristics. It is not ruled out that the German attacking midfielder will do a part of the pre-season under the new first-team coach which could give him a chance to make an impression.