Flick Insists Two Barcelona Players Must Leave Before Pre-Season Begins
Barcelona is gearing up for a new season filled with both technical and administrative changes, with German manager Hansi Flick continuing in charge. It’s evident that the club’s leadership is pushing for a major overhaul of the squad, particularly in positions that led to internal issues last season.
According to the Spanish outlet El Nacional, Flick is already laying the groundwork for his second year with the team and has made some decisive calls. Among his first steps was identifying players who won’t feature in his future plans—namely Ansu Fati and Iñaki Peña.
Flick has made it clear that both players need to leave before pre-season kicks off in July, as they will not be part of his tactical setup and won’t be getting any minutes. He wants to start the season with a well-defined and cohesive group.
Ansu Fati appears to be on the verge of exiting the club, with a loan deal to AS Monaco nearly finalized. The agreement reportedly includes an option to buy. The Spanish winger, who has struggled to regain form after multiple injuries, is seeking consistent playing time and a fresh start away from Barcelona.
Iñaki Peña’s case is more complex. With Juan Garcia’s arrival and Wojciech Szczesny set to remain as backup keeper, there’s no place for a third-choice goalie. Flick has informed the club of this decision, and sporting director Deco is actively searching for a new club for Peña.
However, a major hurdle is the lack of serious interest. While some lower-tier clubs have shown some attention, top-division teams have yet to make offers. The club still hopes a fitting deal will materialize either from Spain or abroad in the coming weeks.
If not, Barcelona may be forced to consider terminating Peña’s contract—an option they’d prefer to avoid. Flick, however, is adamant about starting pre-season without players outside of his plans.
