€15m homegrown Barcelona pivot has now become indispensable under Hansi Flick | OneFootball

FC Barcelona have not been the most financially blessed team in recent years and this has prompted them to turn to La Masia for help. It is fair to say that the club’s academy have gone over and beyond expectations.

Ansu Fati, Gavi, Fermin Lopez, Alejandro Balde, Lamine Yamal and Pau Cubarsi have all come through the academy in recent seasons and gone on to become important facets in the first team. This season, since the arrival of Hansi Flick in the summer, the German coach has taken the trust in La Masia to a whole new level.

The ex-Bayern coach has promoted the likes of Marc Casado, Marc Bernal and Gerard Martin to the first team and the former two in particular have proven to be exceptional. Initially, Bernal seemed first choice for Hansi Flick but an unfortunate ACL injury in just the third game of the season has seen the 17-year-old being ruled out of action for the better part of the next 12 months.

However, this has turned out to be an opportunity for Marc Casado, who has grabbed it with both hands. As per SPORT, Casado has emerged as the Joshua Kimmich for Hansi Flick’s Barcelona so far this season. The €15m-rated 21-year-old has had to be patient all these years but has emerged as one of the best holding midfielders in La Liga this season.

Against Garcia Pimienta’s Sevilla last weekend, Casado completed 48 out of 53 attempted passes, recovered six balls, forced four fouls and won five out of his seven ground duels. Simply put, he dictated the temp at which Barcelona play along with Pedri.

Since the exit of Sergio Busquets more than a season ago, Barcelona have been searching for a replacement. They had been looking at Martin Zubimendi and Joshua Kimmich, as the report also concedes but in Casado, they have found a #6 who is tailor-made for the way the team plays football.

One wonders why Xavi went down the Oriol Romeu route instead of trusting Casado last season. The emergence of Marc Casado is further evidence that when Barcelona have a problem, more often than not, the answer lies within La Masia.

Once Marc Bernal also returns next season, the club is well sorted for the pivot position and let’s hope Casado can continue his good work against Bayern and for the rest of the season.