Five Barcelona Stars Fighting to Prove Their Worth This Preseason

Barcelona kicked off their preseason with a strong La Masia flavor, as the youngsters cruised to a comfortable 4–1 win over CE Europa on Saturday.

Nineteen-year-old winger Ález González stole the spotlight with three goal contributions and is among the talented academy prospects who could force their way into Hansi Flick's thinking, much like Marc Bernal, Marc Casadó, Pau Cubarsí and Gerard Martín have done since the German took charge.

The club's strong contingent of World Cup players means there will be plenty of chances for La Masia talent to shine again. That said, established stars will inevitably take center stage ahead of La Liga's opening weekend in late August.

The back-to-back Spanish champions are targeting a third consecutive La Liga title, something no side has achieved since the era of Pep Guardiola and Lionel Messi in Catalonia. Barça held onto their crown from 2009 to 2011, though unlike Flick's squad, those domestic triumphs were accompanied by multiple Champions League trophies as well.

This shapes up to be a defining season for Barça, with a pivotal summer ahead for several key players. Here are five who need to make their mark in preseason.

Alejandro Balde

Alejandro Balde once appeared destined for greatness, seen as the natural successor to Jordi Alba's left back role at the Camp Nou.

Yet the Spaniard has been plagued by injuries since his breakthrough 2022–23 season under Xavi Hernández. Last campaign proved especially difficult, with Flick turning to other options even when Balde was fit. João Cancelo made a strong impression at left back in the second half of the season, and Barça are keen to sign the Portuguese international on a permanent basis.

As a result, competition at left back is set to be fierce next season.

Cancelo would likely be the preferred option if he completes a move, leaving Balde playing catch-up. The explosive force he was three seasons ago has slowly faded, and there are worries that his preseason could be disrupted by pubalgia.

Nevertheless, he is expected to join the squad traveling to England for Barcelona's friendly against Birmingham City. These coming weeks are critical for Balde, who won't be leaving this summer but will be eager to gain an edge over Cancelo should the club take time to finalize a deal.

Gerard Martín

Gerard Martín often cut an awkward figure at left back during his breakthrough year with the club. However, he delivered a surprisingly effective performance in the second leg of Barcelona's Champions League semifinal exit to Inter Milan.

Last summer, Flick repositioned Martín into the heart of Barça's defense, where he flourished alongside Pau Cubarsí. Reports now suggest the club will not pursue another center back, choosing instead to direct funds toward reinforcing the attack.

That stance is far from guaranteed, however. This remains a significant summer for Martín, and it didn't get off to the best start against CE Europa. His defending in the box was far too casual during the sequence that led to the opposition's only goal.

Barcelona are taking a gamble by not adding another defensive option, even if Flick appears comfortable with the current setup. Andreas Christensen is expected to play a key role, and there is even speculation that Jules Koundé could be deployed centrally should Ronald Araújo depart.

Marc Casadó

The composed midfielder is no standout performer. While his 2023–24 season was respectable, Casadó is the type of player La Masia produces with almost routine regularity.

His physical limitations have been exposed at the top level on multiple occasions, and his involvement was consequently reduced last season. Flick has shown a preference for Marc Bernal.

At present, Casadó finds himself on the fringes. No transfer is imminent, however. The midfielder still has time to persuade the manager of his value, particularly following Frenkie de Jong's torn MCL.

Pedri, Bernal and Gavi can all step into the void, but each carries a concerning injury history. Pedri has recurring hamstring issues, while the other two have both endured serious knee injuries early in their careers.

Relying solely on those three for two midfield positions would be a risky approach, so De Jong's setback may have inadvertently given Casadó a lifeline to remain part of Flick's squad after a challenging campaign.

Roony Bardghji

Barcelona invested little in backup cover for Lamine Yamal last season, which led to Flick leaning so heavily on the teenage sensation that his hamstring eventually gave way.

Roony Bardghji, who arrived from FC Copenhagen, managed just 872 minutes of action across all competitions last season, contributing six goal involvements along the way.

He is a tricky left-footed wide player capable of beating opponents in one-on-one duels, though he lacks top-end pace. Flick is reportedly still weighing up whether the 20-year-old fits into his plans for next season, making preseason a defining period for the youngster's future at the club.

Karim Adeyemi

Anthony Gordon is so far the headline attacking arrival, though we shouldn't expect to see much of him before the La Liga season begins given his involvement with England at the World Cup.

Barcelona believe Gordon represents an upgrade on Marcus Rashford, a view Thomas Tuchel would likely share. The German coach trusted Gordon during the World Cup knockout rounds, and it was the Liverpool-born former Newcastle United winger who gave the Three Lions the lead in their semifinal loss to Argentina.

Gordon brings enormous value without the ball, but he also demonstrated his quality in possession throughout the summer. He is an intelligent winger who links play effectively inside and possesses the pace to stretch defenders on the outside.

Flick will also appreciate his tactical flexibility.

Now, turning to Adeyemi. It feels as though Barça have taken something of a calculated risk on the German international. His output at Borussia Dortmund was consistently solid but never truly exceptional, and an inconsistency in his game can make him a source of frustration.

The raw attributes for greatness are undeniably present, and perhaps Flick's Barça provides the ideal setting for Adeyemi to reach his peak. Having missed out on Julian Nagelsmann's Germany squad for the World Cup, he has the entire summer to adapt to Flick's system and potentially stake a claim for a starting berth on the opening weekend of the season.