Barcelona is satisfied with their 21-year-old midfielder despite limited playing time, with Hansi Flick considering two young players to fill in for the injured Lamine Yamal. As the team faces absences due to injury, including Ansu Fati and Ferran Torres, the squad is likely to see opportunities for rising talents like Unai Hernandez. With strong performances for Barca Atletic, Hernandez, along with other young prospects, could play a key role in the upcoming matches.
Barcelona Pleased with 21-Year-Old Midfielder Despite Minutes
The recent surge of midfielders last month relieved Hansi Flick of his midfield limitations and unlocked numerous possibilities for his strategies.
The return of Frenkie de Jong, Fermin Lopez, Dani Olmo, and Gavi strengthened the squad, giving the coach more options for rotation.
One player who didn’t gain from the change was Pablo Torre, as the young talent saw his place in the team taken away through no fault of his own.
Deco Meets with Torre’s Agent
As reported by Jijantes FC in a recent update, Barcelona’s sporting director Deco held a meeting with Pablo Torre’s agent earlier today to talk about the player’s situation and future.
He stated that the club is pleased with the young player’s performances and training quality, and they are not considering letting go of the midfielder at this time.
Torre is ready to battle for his place and understands that chances will come with the addition of tournaments like the Copa del Rey and Spanish Super Cup to the schedule.
He is not considering leaving the club at this moment and will keep giving his best effort in hopes of reclaiming his former prominence.
The 21-year-old has featured in five matches for the Blaugrana this season, starting three of them, with an average of 68 minutes per game. During this time, he has scored three goals and provided one assist, making a strong impact.
His most recent appearance for the team was a month ago against Sevilla, where he scored a brace. Since then, he hasn’t featured for the club, even as a substitute, though he did record an assist for the Spanish Under-21 team earlier this week.
Flick Considers Two Barcelona Youngsters for Yamal’s Absence
“Next youngster up” has been Barcelona’s approach over the past year, and with Lamine Yamal sidelined for their match against Celta Vigo this weekend, it seems Hansi Flick will continue that strategy. The 17-year-old star is still recovering from an ankle injury and will miss the trip to Galicia.
As a result, 19-year-old Unai Hernandez is expected to be called up by Flick. Having captained Barca Atletic on several occasions this season, the young attacker trained with the senior squad on Thursday and will join them again on Friday, according to Sport. It is likely he will be included in the squad for the trip to Celta. German talent Noah Darvich also trained with the first team and is in the mix for a possible call-up.
Hernandez has mainly played as a left winger, cutting in on his right, but is also capable of playing as a number 10, midfielder, or even on the right. The teenager recently reached his 50th appearance for Barca Atletic, where he has become an important player. He contributed one assist and six goals in 13 appearances for Albert Sanchez’s team, which is struggling in the third tier.
Lamine Yamal isn’t the only player absent for Barcelona, as Ansu Fati and Ferran Torres are also sidelined due to injury. Up front, Raphinha and Robert Lewandowski are expected to start, with Fermin Lopez, Dani Olmo, and Pau Victor all vying for the third spot. This opens up a good opportunity for Hernandez, whose playing style closely resembles Olmo’s, as he often plays centrally under Flick, giving him a solid chance of getting game time.
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