Carles Puyol has praised a current Barcelona star as one of the best in the world, highlighting his exceptional talent. Meanwhile, Hansi Flick plans a position change for the player, eager to utilize his strengths in a new role. However, Xavi’s decision to keep him from replacing Sergio Busquets last season was made with the player’s long-term development in mind, ensuring he wasn’t burdened with too much too soon.
Puyol: Current Star is One of the Best in the World
Barcelona hopes to have Ronald Araujo back soon as he nears full recovery from a severe hamstring injury sustained during the Copa America in July. Nearly five months have passed, and the 25-year-old is reportedly in the final phase of his rehabilitation.
Araujo’s absence hasn’t been heavily felt by Barcelona, who have had an outstanding start to the 2024-25 season. Pau Cubarsi and Inigo Martinez have formed a solid partnership, but for club legend Carles Puyol, the Uruguayan must return to the starting lineup once he’s fully fit (via Sport).
“For me, he is a very good player. He is one of the best defenders in the world. I think everyone has to make their career, but we can have similarities in terms of the game.”
Reclaiming a spot in Barcelona’s starting lineup won’t be easy for Araujo, but it will be intriguing to see how he fits into Hansi Flick’s system.
Flick Plans Position Change for Barcelona Star
Barcelona coach Hansi Flick is set to change Eric García’s role once he recovers from injury.
According to Diario Sport, they have shared the latest updates from behind the scenes in Barcelona this weekend.
Eric is currently sidelined due to a foot injury.
Before that, the former Manchester City player had been playing a key role in Barcelona’s first team.
With a midfield crisis at hand, Eric was asked to step in as a deep-lying midfielder, a role in which he excelled.
As mentioned earlier, once the Spanish international receives the medical clearance after the international break, he will be reinstated to his natural defensive role.
According to Diario Sport, with Frenkie de Jong, Gavi, and Fermín López all fully recovered:
‘When Eric is discharged, he will once again be used as a center-back by Flick. This is where he feels most comfortable and where he shone last season at Girona.’
Why Xavi Stopped Flick’s Midfield Star from Replacing Busquets
Barcelona midfielder Marc Casado earned his first call-up to the Spanish national team this week and will work with Luis de la Fuente for the first time soon. It’s a highly deserved opportunity.
The young talent has been a standout for Barcelona this season, seamlessly fitting into the defensive midfield role. He has impressed not only with his off-the-ball work rate but also with his quality and passing range.
With fierce competition for a starting spot in midfield, Casado stands out as the only player with a unique profile that others can’t match.
A Season of Contrasts
Xavi Hernandez rightly deserves credit for his trust in La Masia, having promoted numerous talents who are now key players for the first team.
Casado, however, didn’t have the same fortune under the previous manager. While Xavi gave him his debut, he only made two appearances, totaling 36 minutes in La Liga last season.
As reported by La Vanguardia, Xavi didn’t assign the 21-year-old talent the role he anticipated, prioritizing his well-being. Xavi didn’t want to place the pressure of replacing the legendary Sergio Busquets on the young player’s shoulders.
In training, Xavi closely monitored Casado and provided him with valuable guidance, advising him to avoid passing sideways and always seek forward, progressive options.
The player was frustrated by his limited playing time despite his strong performances in training, but he frequently met with his teammates after first-team matches to gain insights and stay involved.
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