The start of the year wasn’t easy for Marc Casado, who found himself marginalized in the Barcelona squad. Despite his hopes of proving himself, his appearances were extremely limited, and it became clear that, even if Frenkie de Jong was always fit, Casado’s chances of starting were virtually nonexistent. As time passed, it became evident that the youngster was struggling to convince coach Hansi Flick and his teammates.<\/p>\n
Pedri Prefers De Jong<\/p>\n
Although Casado was trying hard to influence the matches he played in, his teammates, especially Pedri, still consider the ideal midfield partnership to be Pedri and De Jong. In internal meetings, Pedri expressed his strong preference for playing alongside De Jong, as he feels they share a special understanding that enhances the team’s performance as a whole. Even when De Jong isn’t at his best, Pedri always finds a way to bring him back to his best, ensuring greater stability in midfield.<\/p>\n
Casado’s Future Role<\/p>\n
With Casado’s form declining and Pedri’s preference for playing alongside De Jong, it is becoming clear that coach Flick will rely more on the duo of De Jong and Pedri in midfield during big matches. While Casado is still trying to find his place in the squad, the outlook for the upcoming season suggests that Barcelona’s midfield will be led by these two players, with growing doubts about Casado’s role in the near future.<\/p>\n
Accordingly, the upcoming El Cl\u00e1sico is expected to be a crucial test not only for Barcelona but also for Casado’s position within the team.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
The start of the year wasn’t easy for Marc Casado, who found himself marginalized in the Barcelona squad. Despite his hopes of proving himself, his appearances were extremely limited, and it became clear that, even if Frenkie de Jong was always fit, Casado’s chances of starting were virtually nonexistent. As time passed, it became evident …<\/p>\n