Barcelona faces a season that appears to be a turning point under Hansi Flick's leadership. After a summer of significant moves in the market and a renewed coaching staff, the goal is clear: to compete at the highest level. The German coach, aware of the demands, has started to shape a playing style based on intensity, pressing, and the young talent emerging from the academy.
One of the aspects that most characterizes the new project is the search for alternatives that allow Barça to be less predictable.Flick doesn't want to rely solely on the big stars; instead, he aims to create internal competition that raises the collective performance. In that context, several names are starting to gain prominence, and one of them could become the big surprise of the season, even at the expense of displacing already established footballers.
A very desired return
That player is Marc Bernal, a midfielder trained at La Masia who had already caught attention before suffering a serious injury that sidelined him from the field. His progress was abruptly halted, but after a long recovery process, he is once again available to the coach and with renewed motivation. Flick has closely followed his progress and believes he can play a significant role in the team's immediate future.
In training sessions, Bernal has shown that he hasn't lost his strengths: good vision of the game, the ability to distribute wisely, and a notable physical presence in the midfield. That combination fits what the German coach is looking for, as he highly values intensity and tactical discipline. For that reason, it's no coincidence that in the locker room, people are already saying Bernal could get important minutes from the start of the season.
Top-level competition
The big question is whether his breakthrough will be enough to compete for a spot in the starting eleven against key players like Frenkie de Jong. The Dutchman has been one of Barça's leaders in recent years and keeps the trust of the club and the coaching staff. But Bernal brings a different profile that can be useful in certain match scenarios.
Flick doesn't rule out using him in matches where more muscle, late runs into the box, and the ability to cover ground are needed. The board also continues to follow his progress with interest, aware that having an academy player who can step up represents added value. Bernal is not only looking to make up for lost time but also to establish himself as a real alternative within a midfield where competition is at its highest.
If he performs in competition as he has in training, the coach could reconsider the hierarchy. In addition, giving space to a player expected to be one of the surprises of the season isn't ruled out.