Hansi Flick talks Rashford, Yamal, Araujo and next season’s objectives ahead of Barcelona vs FC Seoul

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Sempre Barca

·30 Juli 2025

Hansi Flick talks Rashford, Yamal, Araujo and next season’s objectives ahead of Barcelona vs FC Seoul

FC Barcelona continue their preseason tour in Asia with the next challenge set in Seoul, South Korea. After a promising start to their preparations under Hansi Flick, the Blaugrana are gearing up to face FC Seoul in what will be their second friendly fixture of the summer.

Ahead of the match, as SPORT has reported, Hansi Flick spoke to the media from the Four Seasons Hotel in central Seoul, sharing his thoughts on the squad’s current state, the adaptation of new signings like Marcus Rashford, and the individual brilliance of stars like Lamine Yamal.

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The German manager also addressed transfer rumors, player workload, and expectations for the season ahead. Here are the key takeaways from his press conference.

Flick expressed his enthusiasm for one of Barcelona’s newest additions, Marcus Rashford, who arrived on loan from Manchester United a few days ago. The German coach was candid in his admiration for the English forward:

Marcus is a great player. I’ve followed him for many years, ever since he started his career at United. He has a lot of quality, and we hope he can show it this season with the team.

The new No. 10 of Barcelona continues to draw praise, and Hasi Flick reiterated his admiration for Lamine Yamal:

We saw it last season — Lamine is an exceptional talent, incredible, and he can always decide games. I’m very happy to have him in my team, and of course he’s going to play tomorrow. We’re going to give our best, we train for that. And here in Seoul it won’t be any different — it’ll be an important test for the team.

Despite last season’s domestic success, Flick made it clear that Barça’s hunger for titles remains unchanged. With a deeper squad and new reinforcements, the Catalans aim to compete on all fronts once again, including in Europe:

It’s going to be a tough season, but we’re approaching it positively. We’ve improved the quality of the team, that’s what we believe, but it will be a long season. We focus on ourselves and want to win titles — the same goal as last season. We’re going to try to win every match, as always.

On their South Korean opponents, Flick noted:

I know the team, yes — we’ve analyzed them. But we’re more focused on ourselves and on doing what we need to do to properly prepare for the season.

Addressing transfer rumors linking Ronald Araujo with a move away, Flick was firm in his response. He also acknowledged the difficulty of managing depth in multiple positions but emphasized his satisfaction with the group:

Araujo? Why should he leave? There are lots of rumors about many players, including Araujo, but I haven’t received any news. I have a great squad, with a lot of quality. Every position is covered — in some areas we even have three players. It’s not easy to manage, of course, but I’m happy.

Finally, Flick commended his players for their focus and professionalism in tough conditions. The German coach also took time to thank the fans for the warm welcome in Seoul:

Yes, I’m happy with how the team is training, definitely. We’ve received a very warm welcome, a lot of fans here in Seoul and in South Korea. The team is training well. It’s not easy because it’s very hot, but the players are focused and working with quality. We’re not making any excuses.

With the preseason heating up, Barcelona’s friendly against FC Seoul will offer further insights into Flick’s tactical preferences and squad management. Eyes will be on Yamal, Rashford, and the rising gem as the Blaugrana gear up for another title-chasing campaign.