Betting on the youth of the club is something FC Barcelona has always been renowned for. Even when they were at the absolute top of the footballing world, Barça’s youngsters were a prominent feature of the team. Now, however, even the desperate situation of Barcelona pushes them to count on them.
Heading into next season, La Blaugrana will look to fill and complete most voids using their own homegrown talents. The profile of a dynamic right-winger ended up arriving with Lamine Yamal, while a strong and able ball-playing centreback ended up arriving in the form of Pau Cubarsi.
Yet, a very pivotal position still remains a constant headache for Barcelona to overcome. The signing of a new elite pivot is a must, but Barça believe one of their own has at least earned the right to be considered a suitable candidate for the position itself.
As per Mundo Deportivo, Barcelona truly wish to put their faith and trust in 20-year-old Marc Casado. A defensive midfielder who can operate both as a pivot and as a right-back, a blend of versatility almost mirroring that of Joshua Kimmich, he is also the captain of Barcelona Atletic.
However, his contractual situation has caused some worry in recent times. His current deal expires in June of this year, but Barcelona are already looking to offer him a better deal that would apply bonuses and improvements as per his performances this season and the value that he will add to the team in upcoming years.
Barça can also unilaterally decide to extend his deal until 2025, something that was implemented into the original deal when it was signed in 2022. However, retaining the 20-year-old leader for the years to come is still a major priority.
It remains to be seen how Hansi Flick will view the youngster, however, as the new Barcelona coach may have plans of his own.
