Hansi Flick leaves three players out of Barcelona’s Asia tour and urges the club to sell them
Barcelona began preparations for the new season with open options, most notably the exit process. Coach Hansi Flick made it clear from the start: he did not want to take the excluded players to the Asian tour, which began in a few days. For this reason, he informed Deco and the players themselves of his intention to resolve their exit as quickly as possible.
Flick wants to start the Asian tour with a pre-defined squad, without players who don’t fit his plans. Deco is racing against time to complete these trips as quickly as possible, aware that sporting planning relies heavily on securing surplus wages and dressing room space.
In Barcelona, there is no longer room for emotion: the project requires decisive decisions.
The first player is Oriol, as the midfielder has failed to convince the coaching staff under Flick, and his departure is imminent. Girona and other La Liga clubs have expressed interest in him, and the player also expects a change of scenery if he is not playing a leadership role. All indications point to a possible departure in the coming days.
For his part, Iñaki Peña is on the verge of leaving. The goalkeeper has lost the confidence of the sporting directors, and with Juan Garcia’s arrival as a potential starter, his continued presence with the team makes no sense. Talks are underway with several first division clubs interested in giving him playing time, and the club is confident his departure will be finalized soon.
The most delicate situation, without a doubt, is that of Marc-André ter Stegen. The German goalkeeper has been a mainstay of the team for years, but Flick has already informed him that he will not be a starter this season, a decision that has surprised everyone inside and outside the dressing room.
It seems clear that the coach is committed to a complete renewal of the goalkeeping team, and he believes that Ter Stegen is no longer part of his project.
The problem lies in the German’s desire to stay. Despite the offers he has received—both Galatasaray and Monaco have been interested in him—ter Stegen wants to continue competing at the highest level and isn’t considering leaving for any other destination.
His situation could become one of the summer’s biggest problems, although the club does not rule out the possibility of Flick dropping him from the squad if he insists on continuing.
Source: El Nacional
