Barcelona's FC makes significant choice concerning Spanish Super Cup squad
Barcelona's FC makes significant choice concerning Spanish Super Cup squad
FC Barcelona and its new coach Hansi Flick have made an important announcement concerning the team that will journey to Saudi Arabia for the Spanish Super Cup next week.
Barcelona is venturing to the Middle East with the objective of reclaiming the title it seized in an exhilarating manner against Real Madrid at the start of 2023, only to lose it back to their arch-rivals the following year. Vinicius Jr. achieved the quickest hat trick in El Clasico history during this 4-1 defeat, which was part of a comprehensive victory for Real Madrid.
At that point, Xavi Hernandez was the manager, but he subsequently stepped down and was replaced by Flick, who agreed to stay until June 30, 2025. However, Flick was ultimately dismissed due to voicing concerns about the club's financial constraints publicly.
These financial constraints have also influenced team selection for the 2024/2025 season. Barcelona was only able to sign two players during the summer transfer window - Dani Olmo and Pau Victor from RB Leipzig and Girona respectively - and register them until the end of the year.
However, both a judge and La Liga declined to grant extensions for the remainder of the season.
Even after Barcelona returned to compliance with Financial Fair Play (FFP) limits by selling VIP boxes in its Spotify Camp Nou stadium for a staggering £87.5 million (€90 million), the Spanish league and Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) once again rejected the players' eligibility, leaving them on the sidelines.
This meant they could not feature in Barcelona's 4-0 victory over Barbastro in the Copa del Rey, as the RFEF oversees the competition. The same applies to the Spanish Super Cup and the semifinal match against Athletic Club on January 8.
Following Barcelona's success over Barbastro, both Flick and defender Ronald Araujo spoke about the registration issue.
"We have to remain professional and cope with Daniel Olmo and Pau Victor's absence from the team. I try to ensure that it does not impact the team's performance," Flick said.
"Everyone wants Olmo and Victor with us, but we focused on the match against Barbastro. We have no control over the situation. We must accept it, act professionally, and perform on the pitch," he added.
Despite this, it has been confirmed that both Olmo and Victor will be included in the squad for the trip to Saudi Arabia.
As reported by numerous sources, they will serve as part of the squad's backup, even if they are unable to participate in competitive matches.
This decision should provide a much-needed morale boost, particularly if Barcelona can repeat its success from two years ago during a phase of poor results in late 2024.
Vinicius Jr.'s hat trick against Barcelona in the Spanish Super Cup was a memorable moment for Real Madrid, but it was Pau Victor and Dani Olmo who were added to the Barcelona squad for this year's edition, aiming to help the team reclaim the title they lost to Real Madrid in 2023. Despite facing financial constraints and registration issues, Hansi Flick acknowledged the absence of Olmo and Victor but expressed the need to remain professional and focus on the team's performance.