Barça comes from a narrow victory over Mallorca in a match with many rotations. Flick reserved several starters thinking about the most desired duel: the Copa del Rey final against Real Madrid. But beyond the result, the big news is what's coming.
The coaching staff has made an important decision. A reserve team player has been drafted to debut with the first team. It's not just anyone: it's the most highly valued gem of the academy in recent years.
The match against Madrid will mark a turning point. This young talent will be there.
La Masia Returns to the Scene
In a moment where the pressure is at its peak, Flick has opted to look inward. His bet is clear: young, fresh talent with a Barça identity. La Masia, once again, appears as a lifeline for the future.
The coach had already requested it in January. He wanted to incorporate a creative profile, with the final pass and the ability to break through in interior areas. Someone who understands possession play but also has the personality to break lines.
He found it at home.
The player has been training with the first team for several weeks. He has impressed with his maturity, his calmness with the ball, and his ability to read the game. Flick didn't take long to be convinced.
Deco and Laporta have given the green light without hesitation. The club had been securing his contract for some time, convinced that sooner or later he would make the leap. That moment has arrived.
The debut is scheduled for this Saturday. It won't be just any match.
A Debut with a Classic Flavor
Barça and Real Madrid will face off for the first major title of the year. It will be the Copa del Rey final, and all eyes will be on him. There, this young footballer will have his first official minutes with the first team.
Flick is clear: he will come off the bench but will have a role. It's not an improvised decision. In training, he has shown that he can compete.
The team needs unexpected options. A different piece, off the white radar.
The player signed his renewal a few weeks ago. Barça has secured him until 2027, with staggered clauses and variable objectives. The sports management knows that interest from other clubs won't take long to arrive.
His market value is still low. But internally, they consider him a future star. In fact, they already compare him to big names in Barça's history.
Laporta has defined him as "a talent that can't be let go."
It's About...
The player debuting this Saturday in the Copa final is Toni Fernández, an attacking midfielder just 16 years old. Trained at La Masia since the youth levels, he is an international with the U-17 and one of the greatest talents the academy has produced in the last decade. Flick is won over with his style, and Laporta believes he can define an era.
Toni represents everything Barça wants to be: local talent, associative soccer, and character. His debut comes on the best possible stage. Who knows... maybe what starts as a debut will end up being a story to remember.