Barcelona close to renewing out-of-favour star’s contract; loan exit to follow

Hansi Flick plans to utilize a 23-year-old Barcelona star as a makeshift centre-back, indicating a potential positional shift for the player. Concurrently, a Barcelona academy graduate is poised for an increased role under Flick, being viewed akin to a new signing. The team receives a boost with a superstar set to return from injury against Levante.

Contract negotiations are active for several players. One established defender is now considered key, with talks underway to extend his contract until 2029. Barcelona is also close to renewing the contract of an out-of-favour star, with a loan exit expected to follow the renewal. Jules Koundé's contract renewal is specifically highlighted as a significant positive development for the club.

Pre-season and early season lineup possibilities are discussed extensively. Potential starting XIs in a 4-2-3-1 formation are suggested for matches against Mallorca (featuring Joan Garcia and Fermin), Como in the Gamper Trophy (featuring Gavi and Rashford), and Daegu FC (featuring Pedri and Lamine Yamal).

Match analysis is provided for recent fixtures. Barcelona's pre-season tour of Asia yielded 15 goals from 10 different scorers. A 5-0 victory over Como in the Joan Gamper Trophy and a 3-0 win against Mallorca in La Liga are covered, with player ratings from the Mallorca match noting Joan Garcia (7) and Lamine Yamal (8.5). Key takeaways from both the Mallorca win and the Gamper Trophy victory are outlined. Three talking points are also identified ahead of the Mallorca match.

New signing Joan Garcia is analyzed, with five reasons given why he is expected to be an ideal acquisition for Barcelona.