Hansi Flick Pushes for More Signings at Barcelona Despite Rodri Deal
Hansi Flick has made it clear to the Barcelona board that the squad still needs strengthening, even after the club secured a £65 million agreement with Manchester City to sign Spanish midfielder Rodri. The German coach believes more players are necessary to bring the team back to the top of European football.
Flick Calls for Additional Reinforcements
Although the deal for Rodri marks a significant move in the summer transfer window, Flick says the club’s transfer activity is far from finished. Speaking with the club’s media, the former Bayern Munich manager said, "I think we need a few more players." This shows his belief that the squad depth remains insufficient despite the big signing.
Strong Friendly Win Highlights Progress but Reveals Work Ahead
The comments came following a solid 5-2 victory over Swiss side Basel at St. Jakob's Park. Several key players returned, including young Spanish star Lamine Yamal, who scored a penalty in his first game since winning the World Cup. Flick was pleased with the performance compared to earlier preseason matches, but he pointed out areas needing improvement.
"It was a good test for us; Basel played well," Flick explained. "Maybe in the first half, our speed and positioning were not quite where we wanted. We’ve got potential, and I’m happy with this challenge."
He also praised the team's training intensity and work ethic behind the scenes. "The most important thing is how we train, the quality and intensity. That’s very good," Flick said. "We’ll review the match and training sessions, and with another game this week, we’ll continue progressing."
Managing Fitness as La Liga Approaches
With the start of the La Liga season near, Flick is carefully balancing player workloads. He noted fitness levels influenced his substitutions during the Basel game. "Some players arrived just five days ago. We have to prepare for the Elche match and decide who can start or play the full 90 minutes," he added, emphasizing the challenge of managing limited substitutions.
New Signings Impress, But Squad Depth Remains a Concern
The friendly allowed new arrivals to show their quality. Karim Adeyemi opened the scoring after a pass from Raphinha, while teenage signing Jesse Bisiwu grabbed a late brace off the bench. Flick is optimistic about the squad’s development but insists the current depth won’t suffice for a demanding season with multiple competitions. This explains his push for more transfers alongside Rodri.
Final Preparations for Joan Gamper Trophy
Barcelona now head into the last phase of preseason, aiming to build momentum ahead of the Joan Gamper Trophy against Egyptian side Al-Ahly. This match will be Flick’s last chance to test tactics before the competitive campaign kicks off against Elche on August 23.
