Former Man Utd boss remembers conversation with Laporta where he suggested Flick – ‘Maybe he remembered’ | OneFootball

In an exclusive interview with SPORT, former Manchester United manager and current Austria coach Ralf Rangnick has revealed how he once sat down with Joan Laporta in Barcelona, well before Hansi Flick became the Catalan club’s manager.

The conversation, which took place in 2021 during Laporta’s campaign to return as Barça president, centred around the future of the club and Rangnick’s football vision.

Rangnick shared that it all began with a surprise phone call from Rafael Yuste, who invited him to Barcelona to discuss the role of sporting director. “I didn’t know him,” Rangnick recalled.

“But I said yes. I flew to Barcelona and spent two days meeting with Yuste and Laporta. We had a deep conversation about the club’s direction and how my football philosophy could fit at Barça.”

Rangnick’s advice shaped Barça’s vision

Rangnick’s trademark style, focusing on modern, energetic football with an emphasis on youth, was the main topic of discussion. “Laporta asked me what kind of coaches I’d recommend,” Rangnick said.

Ralf Rangnick advised Flick to Joan Laporta. (Photo by Christian Bruna/Getty Images)

“I told him, coaches who like to work with young players, who have strong leadership, who know how to develop talent and trust them.”

The former Man United boss also emphasised the importance of giving young players freedom.

“If you’re going to rely on young players like Barça do, you can’t hold them back. You must let them play like young wolves, take risks, express themselves. Otherwise, it won’t work,” he added.

It was during this very conversation that Rangnick brought up the name Hansi Flick, long before the German would actually join Barça in 2024.

“I mentioned Flick, maybe Klopp too. I told Laporta he needed someone like that. Maybe he remembered.”

The connection between Rangnick’s advice and Barça’s eventual appointment of Flick suggests that the seeds of this current chapter were planted years ago.

Rangnick’s belief in youth and high-tempo football clearly resonated with Laporta and now, under Flick, that philosophy might finally take full shape at Camp Nou.