It’s funny how in football a managerial change can bring about a massive difference in a player’s fortune at a club – for the better or the worse. Antonio Rudiger’s case at Chelsea is a classic example of this. Within months, he went from being a Blues outcast under Frank Lampard to one of the best defenders in the world under Thomas Tuchel.
While it might not be of the same magnitude, Hector Fort has seen the other side of the spectrum as Barcelona went from Xavi Hernandez to Hansi Flick. From being the Spaniard’s preferred back-up for both right-back and left-back, he has fallen down the pecking order under the German.
Flick has made up his mind on Gerard Martin being his preferred choice of understudy to Alejandro Balde whereas he even opted to use the left-footed Alex Valle at right-back over Hector Fort, clearly sending the 18-year-old a message.
Barcelona have also been linked with a move for Almeria’s Marc Pubill. Now, as per SPORT, Sporting de Gijon, a side playing in the second division of Spain is interested in taking the 18-year-old on loan for the season.
Should the Catalan club sign Pubill this summer, Fort is almost certain to leave the club on loan. At just 18, he needs regular game time and a move to the second division of Spain should help him get just that.
However, one factor that needs to be taken into consideration is that Fort played for the Barcelona senior team in a big game like the one against Atletico Madrid last season and still held his own against Diego Simeone’s team.
He seems ready to play in the first division of Spain and if Barcelona have plans of loaning him out, they must look at a top-division club as a priority. Not many teams would give chances to an 18-year-old though.
It remains to be seen how Fort’s career plays out from here. Judging from what he showed last season, he is a huge talent that Barcelona must preserve. It remains to be seen how Deco & co. handle this situation in the days to come.
