Hansi Flick makes first change from Xavi Hernandez by backing Barcelona forward for next season

A key themes from President Joan Laporta’s interview with Barcelona’s channel Barca One was that new manager Hansi Flick would try to get the best out of the squad at his disposal, rather than demand major changes in the transfer market. One of the most significant examples is Vitor Roque.

According to MD, the sporting commission at Barcelona are evaluating the possibilities of bringing in a second number nine should the Brazilian forward leave on loan. They cite promoting youngster Marc Guiu, signing on-loan Girona forward Pau Victor permanently, or placing faith in Ansu Fati as a centre-forward. Meanwhile more experienced options like Borja Mayoral of Getafe, or even Mason Greenwood. The former would be an attempt to mimic Real Madrid’s move for Joselu Mato.

🚨 Barça have already informed Jorge Mendes of their plan to keep both João Félix and João Cancelo, who both want to stay. @FabrizioRomano

— barcacentre (@barcacentre) June 5, 2024

However Sport assure that Roque will remain in the first team this season, and that Flick has already given the green light for that to be the case. The 19-year-old is yet to be registered for next season, which could get in the way of those plans, but one of the major disagreements between Xavi Hernandez and Sporting Deco was the former’s use of Roque.

Hence it would be strange to see Deco back down on the matter immediately with Flick, and the same could be said of Laporta. Flick ‘believes in the current squad’ according the President, and it sounds as if he has accepted that there will be little in the way of reinforcements. With centre-forward not a position of immediate need, it seems unlikely Barcelona will pursue one in the market.