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2 months ago
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Hansi Flick had the chance to take a closer look at some of La Masia youngsters during Barcelona’s 1-0 friendly win over UE Olot earlier this week.
Youngsters like Pablo Torre, Marc Casado and Marc Bernal made a solid impression, which has perhaps led Flick to reconsider the club’s strategy, especially when it comes to finding a solution for the defensive midfield problem.
Hansi Flick turns to La Masia
According to a recent report from Mundo Deportivo, Hansi Flick has been trying out different La Masia youngsters for the holding midfield position, hoping to find an in-house solution to a problem that has persisted ever since the departure of Sergio Busquets.
Barcelona had roped in Oriol Romeu to find a temporary solution, but the veteran midfielder was not able to fill the void left by Busquets.
This forced Barcelona to enter the market for a new holding midfielder, with Mikel Merino emerging as a top target.
Can Casado emerge as Barcelona’s answer to the holding midfield problem? (Photo by Alex Caparros/Getty Images)
But in recent weeks, the Catalans have halted the pursuit of Merino, a decision perhaps influenced by Flick’s desire to find an in-house replacement.
It is no secret that Flick is very impressed with the performances of Casado, Torre and Bernal, not just against Olot but also in training overall.
This could put these youngsters in a favourable position as they look to make a breakthrough into the senior team.
That said, it is still too early to deduce whether these youngsters are ready for top-level football, let alone replacing Sergio Busquets.
They must showcase their performances at a much higher level if they are to gain the trust of Hansi Flick. But one thing is for certain – the German’s willingness to put faith in these La Masia youngsters is a good sign for the club overall.
