FC Barcelona continues to fine-tune the final details of its squad, both in the first team and the reserve team. The club's strategy is clear:consolidate young players in progressive stages before making the final leap to the elite. After Barça Atlètic's relegation to Segunda RFEF, several academy players are facing an important decision about their future.
Flick has made it clear since the start of preseason that minutes in the first team must be earned in training sessions. In addition, the German coach emphasized that no one will get promoted because of their name or their history in the academy. In this context, some footballers are considering options to seek opportunities away from Camp Nou, aware of the strong internal competition and that not all of them will have an immediate spot.
A gem who wants to leave now
One of the most talked-about cases is Jan Virgili's. The 19-year-old winger has informed the club of his intention to leave this summer, as he doesn't accept playing the season in Segunda RFEF with Barça Atlètic. In addition, he's not willing to wait for an opportunity that, for now, seems distant in the first team.
Virgili believes that his time in the reserve team has come to an end, after standing out in the UEFA Youth League and in the lower categories of the Spanish national team. From the sporting department, Deco has been blunt: if the player doesn't want to stay, the club is willing to open the door for him. This, as long as an offer arrives that meets the financial expectations.
The requested amount is around €4 million, with the intention of keeping 50% of a future sale in order not to lose full control over his development.
The value of patience for Flick
Hansi Flick keeps a firm stance regarding the academy. The German coach believes in young players, but he won't hand out opportunities to those who aren't willing to complete their development process. He believes that Virgili needs to consolidate himself for a full year in the reserve team, even in a lower division, to be ready to compete at the highest level.
Meanwhile, clubs like RCD Mallorca have already shown interest in signing him, seeing him as an investment for the future. Barça, meanwhile, isn't in a hurry: they won't give in to pressure from the young player's entourage and are waiting for an offer that meets their conditions before closing any deal. Virgili, meanwhile, has already decided that he wants to leave, and now the move depends on what happens in the club's offices in the coming weeks.