This is a huge season for Bar\u00e7a, and a big summer lies ahead for several senior players. Here are five who must impress in preseason.<\/p>\n
Alejandro Balde![\"Alejandro](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/01kyfpzpzrvhrfa5hs3d.jpg\" "\\"Alejandro")
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Balde hasn\u2019t built on his early-career promise. | Maciej Rogowski\/SOPA Images\/LightRocket\/Getty Images<\/p>\n
Alejandro Balde once looked like a world beater, the natural heir to Jordi Alba\u2019s left back throne at the Camp Nou.<\/p>\n
However, the Spaniard has been beset by injuries since his breakthrough 2022\u201323 campaign under Xavi Hern\u00e1ndez. Last season was particularly tricky, with Flick preferring alternatives even when Balde was available. Jo\u00e3o Cancelo impressed at left back during the second half of the season, and Bar\u00e7a intend to sign the Portuguese international permanently.<\/p>\n
Thus, competition is bound to be stiff at left back next season.<\/p>\n
Cancelo would likely be the first choice were he to sign, with Balde playing catch-up. The dynamic force of three seasons ago has gradually wilted, and there are concerns that his preseason may be hindered by pubalgia.<\/p>\n
Still, he\u2019s expected to travel to England for Barcelona\u2019s friendly against Birmingham City. These are a crucial few weeks for Balde, who won\u2019t be sold this summer but will be looking to get a head start on Cancelo if the club takes an age to strike a deal.<\/p>\n
Gerard Mart\u00edn![\"Gerard](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/01kyfpy63wpxmkp1gkgk.jpg\" "\\"Gerard")
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Mart\u00edn looks more comfortable at centerback. | Gongora\/NurPhoto\/Getty Images<\/p>\n
Gerard Mart\u00edn often appeared as a rather clumsy-looking left back during his breakout year with the club. However, he was curiously effective in the second leg of Barcelona\u2019s Champions League semifinal defeat to Inter Milan. <\/p>\n
Last summer, Flick shifted Mart\u00edn into the center of Bar\u00e7a\u2019s backline, and he thrived alongside Pau Cubars\u00ed. Now, there are reports that the club won\u2019t sign another center back<\/a>, preserving its resources for another splash in attack. <\/p>\n That understanding isn\u2019t a guarantee, though. This is still a big summer for Mart\u00edn, and it didn\u2019t exactly start all too well against CE Europa. His box defending was far too lax during the opponents\u2019 only goal sequence. <\/p>\n Barcelona are playing with fire by not signing another defensive option, even if Flick is content with making do. Andreas Christensen should have a big role to play, and there\u2019s even talk of Jules Kound\u00e9 being used centrally in the event of Ronald Ara\u00fajo\u2019s departure.<\/p>\n Marc Casad\u00f3 Casad\u00f3 has attracted transfer interest. | Aitor Alcalde Colomer\/Getty Images<\/p>\n The tidy midfielder is no world beater. While his 2023\u201324 campaign was impressive enough, Casad\u00f3 is the sort of player La Masia produces with almost laughable frequency.<\/p>\n His physical drawbacks have often been laid bare at the highest level, and his role was limited last season as a result. Flick prefers Marc Bernal.<\/p>\n As it stands, Casad\u00f3 is on the chopping block. There is no sale imminent, however. There\u2019s time for the midfielder to convince the manager that he\u2019s worth having around, especially after Frenkie de Jong suffered a torn MCL<\/a>. <\/p>\n Pedri, Bernal and Gavi are capable of filling the void, but all boast troubling injury records. Pedri has history with his hamstrings, while the other two have each suffered significant knee injuries at the start of their respective careers.<\/p>\n Trusting these three options for two midfield spots would be a risk, so perhaps De Jong\u2019s injury has opened the door for Casad\u00f3 to remain a part of Flick\u2019s plans after a difficult season.<\/p>\n Roony Bardghji The Swedish-born winger was used sparingly. | Gongora\/NurPhoto\/Getty Images<\/p>\n Barcelona<\/a> spent little on providing cover for Lamine Yamal last season, which is why Flick relied upon the superstar teenager so unrelentingly until his hamstring gave in. <\/p>\n Roony Bardghji, who signed from FC Copenhagen, played just 872 minutes of soccer across all competitions last season, notching six goal contributions in the process.<\/p>\n He\u2019s a tricky left-footed wide player who\u2019s able to create separation in one-on-one situations, but he lacks a burst. Flick is reportedly undecided whether the 20-year-old will be a part of his plans next season, so preseason will prove key in determining his fate. <\/p>\n Karim Adeyemi Barcelona have signed the speedy German. | Josep LAGO\/AFP\/Getty Images<\/p>\n Anthony Gordon is so far the big attacking addition, but we can\u2019t expect to see too much of him before the La Liga season gets underway due to his exploits with England at the World Cup.<\/p>\n Barcelona believe they\u2019ve upgraded on Marcus Rashford by signing Gordon, and Thomas Tuchel would probably agree. The German trusted Gordon during the knockout stages of the World Cup, and it was the Scouse-born former Newcastle United winger who handed the Three Lions the lead in their semifinal defeat to Argentina<\/a>.<\/p>\n Gordon has immense value off the ball, but he also highlighted his in-possession prowess this summer, too. He\u2019s a smart winger who combines well inside and also has the necessary pace to trouble his marker on the outside.<\/p>\n Flick will love his versatility, too.<\/p>\n Anyway, onto Adeyemi. It feels like Bar\u00e7a have taken a bit of a punt on the German international. His output at Borussia Dortmund was always decent, never great, and there\u2019s a streakiness to his game that can render him incredibly frustrating.<\/p>\n The raw tools are there for excellence, and perhaps Flick\u2019s Bar\u00e7a is the right environment for the deadliest iteration of Adeyemi to manifest. Given that he failed to make Julian Nagelsmann\u2019s Germany roster for the World Cup, he\u2019s got all summer to acclimatize to Flick\u2019s demands and potentially emerge as a starter on the opening weekend of the season.<\/p>\n![\"Marc](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/01kyfpwhd8tp0rdh5qz5.jpg\" "\\"Marc")
<\/p>\n![\"Roony](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/01kyfpv9adh5r94jvhb6.jpg\" "\\"Roony")
<\/p>\n![\"Karim](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/01kyfpsbsb2e2hkerpax.jpg\" "\\"Karim")
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