Over the course of recent weeks, the priorities at FC Barcelona have become rather clear. At this moment in time, most reports and journalists point towards specific names in the transfer market. It is clear that Barcelona currently hope to push for the signing of a certain winger.
However, 22-year-old Athletic Club winger Nico Williams seems to be taking all the attention from La Blaugrana at the moment. So much so, in fact, that it would seem that the previous priority of signing a defensive midfielder seems to be more or less lost in the process.
While Barcelona may seem to have forgotten about that position, it would appear that head coach Hansi Flick certainly did not. In fact, in a recent interview with Barça One, as highlighted by Mundo Deportivo, the German coach stated the importance of a defensive midfielder in his team:
“When we defend, it is very important that we are a compact team. For me, it is also important that we have a defensive midfielder who also takes care not to give space to the opponent.”
This hardly comes as a surprise, because for both Barcelona and any of Flick’s previous teams, the role of a defensive midfielder is integral. Mikel Merino seems to be a viable low-cost option at the moment, and he recently managed to do Barça a favor as well by eliminating a strong competitor for his transfer.
However, beyond just the defensive midfielder, Flick does seem to be more than content with the technical ability that his midfielders at Barcelona seem to possess: “At Barça, the midfielder knows how to handle that pressure, and that is a blessing for us.”
Lastly, the former Bayern Munich coach also talked about his relation and planning with club director Deco, and how he is quite happy with it:
“I have a very good connection with Deco. He is doing a fantastic job, and I am pleased with what we have agreed upon… We want to improve the quality and capability of this team, which is the most important thing for me.”
Only time will tell just how well Barcelona are able to go on with their recruiting process this summer. Until then, Flick will mainly count on the youngsters of the quarry and the first-team players who are gradually returning from their vacations.
