Hansi Flick to include 17-year-old Barcelona talent in first pre-season campaign | OneFootball

Earlier this month, it was reported that Marc Casado would be involved with the Barcelona firs team during their upcoming pre-season campaign. As it turns out, he won’t be the only young defensive midfielder to make the step up from Barca Atletic.

As reported by MD, Hansi Flick has decided to run the rule over Marc Bernal, who is considered to be one of the brightest talents in La Masia. Sporting director Deco put forward the suggestion to include the 17-year-old in the first team’s pre-season camp, and Flick has accepted.

Bernal is considered by Barcelona officials to be one of the essential pieces of this new generation of homegrown players. Right now, he is ahead of Casado in Flick’s thinking, which bodes well for his chances of a permanent call-up to the first team for next season.

It makes complete sense for Bernal (or Casado) to be in the Barcelona first team dynamic, given the current lack of natural defensive midfielders. Counting on Lamine Yamal and Pau Cubarsi from an early age has worked well for the Catalans, and it can certainly be the same again with Bernal.