Hansi Flick needed only a few hours after winning the Spanish league title, along with the Spanish Super Cup and the Copa del Rey, to start focusing on the upcoming season. Although the season was successful on all fronts, elimination in the Champions League semi-finals left a heavy impact due to the team’s high expectations.
The German coach has already begun preparing for the next phase, with two primary objectives in mind: maintaining the excellent results and regaining domestic dominance while extending it to Europe. To achieve this, he has started planning to strengthen the squad with new players, while simultaneously offloading those who were not given real opportunities at Camp Nou.
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According to information from the Spanish newspaper El Nacional, Flick has handed Deco a “blacklist” of six players, including Iñaki Peña and Héctor Fort, who are officially on the transfer list. Neither will continue, as the coach has lost confidence in their abilities.
Peña’s case, in particular, stood out. He was initially seen as the first-choice goalkeeper in Ter Stegen’s absence, but he quickly lost his place to Wojciech Szczęsny, which later strained his relationship with Flick. The list also includes Pablo Torre and Pau Víctor, who were rarely used despite performing well when given the chance. However, intense competition for their positions has led to their expected departures.
Ansu Fati was among the major disappointments this season, failing to justify his high salary. Flick had hoped to restore the 22-year-old’s top form, but after several attempts, he concluded it was a lost cause. Meanwhile, Joan Laporta is looking to offload his €12 million annual salary.
The list also features a high-profile name: Ronald Araújo, considered Barcelona’s main potential sale, with the club aiming to secure around €60 million for the Uruguayan defender.
Flick has given the green light to both Deco and Laporta to proceed with the sale of all the aforementioned names.
