The takeaways from Barça's tour: goals, exciting debuts, and possible departures

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The takeaways from Barça's tour: goals, exciting debuts, and possible departures

The takeaways from Barça's tour: goals, exciting debuts, and possible departures

With 15 goals scored, 10 different scorers and only four goals conceded in three games against Vissel Kobe (3-1), FC Seoul (3-7) and, most recently, yesterday against Korean side FC Daegu, whom Barça crushed with a resounding 0-5 , Flick's team have closed their return to Asia, six years later, in good shape. A blessed problem for Hansi Flick, who has tested 25 of the 26 players he took on the tour and who will continue to have quality material to defend the La Liga, Spanish Super Cup and Copa del Rey titles. And, why not, to aspire to win the Champions League , that great objective that the team has between its eyebrows.

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That's what we work for. And it shows. After a long vacation that has been a great success for the squad, this has been Gavi's tour, the top scorer with three goals. The Seville midfielder, with the soul of a captain, has matured after a season in which he had to contain his momentum while he regained his competitive rhythm. That patience has now become his best ally: he thinks better and makes better decisions. Flick knows this, and smiles as he watches one of his weaknesses shine, who can play as a deeper central midfielder alongside Marc Casadó, or as a right winger, as he did yesterday alongside De Jong.

Gavi has been the top scorer of the tour with three goals in a team that has scored 15 goals.

It's also been a tour for the acclaimed Lamine Yamal. Barça 's new No. 10 has put a hectic summer behind him to focus on football , showing flashes of brilliance, dribbling, two goals, and surprising decisions that he hopes to carry over to competitive competitions. Along with Raphinha, Balde, and Joan Garcia, he started all three matches.

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Laminate in Daegu

Han Myung-Gu / Getty

As every year, it has also been a tour for the debutants: the excitement of Pedro 'Dro' Fernández, Roony Bardghji, and Toni Fernández, youngsters who, with a goal each, dream of following in the footsteps of Fermín or Balde and earning a place in the first team. And, of course, the veterans' efforts have not been lacking, with Lewandowski scoring a brace at the forefront; his natural replacement, Ferran Torres, scoring two more against FC Seoul; and Marcus Rashford, a versatile attacker who has arrived on loan with the intention of staying. Yesterday, he scored his first goal as a Blaugrana from the point of attack against Daegu.

Because at this Barça, no one wants to leave. Just ask Christensen, the center-back who scored in Seoul; or Ronald Araújo and Marc Casadó, who haven't scored but are demanding their place as great alternatives. Even Gerard Martín, the left-back converted into a center-back in the last two matches to replace a fatigued Iñigo Martínez, has proven to be highly versatile, a characteristic also inherent to Eric Garcia: a center-back from a young age, a midfielder if required, and, for the past few months, the ideal replacement for Koundé at right back, who leaves Asia with a goal against Vissel Kobe.

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It was also the first time Joan Garcia has appeared, a goalkeeper who has demonstrated good footwork, although he will need to be more precise in his outings. Yesterday, a mistake by him almost cost Barça a goal. His substitute is Szczesny, and Diego Kochen, the reserve team goalkeeper to whom Flick gave the last 15 minutes of this tour yesterday, is in reserve. The only one who didn't play was Iñaki Peña: "We had a squad here in Asia of 26 players and four goalkeepers, that's a lot. I've given minutes to everyone except Iñaki," Flick explained yesterday.

Joan Garcia, this Tuesday

Joan Garcia training

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Iñaki Peña's situation is curious, as, as of today, he is the only registered goalkeeper. However, the club continues its usual optimistic tone, assuring that the registration of Joan Garcia, Rashford, Szczesny, and also Gerard Martín, a youth player who is due for a first-team contract this year, is "imminent." But that's another topic.

Read also Laporta's plans to register Joan Garcia, Rashford, Gerard Martín and Szczesny Anaïs Martí Herrero
President Joan Laporta leads the Barça expedition at a supporters' club event in Seoul

As is the return to the Camp Nou, announced for August 10. That match will ultimately be played at the Estadi Johan Cruyff, against Italian side Como. On that day, Flick hopes to have Pau Cubarsí back, who requested a substitution yesterday after experiencing muscle discomfort. The coach will also have time to look after the fatigued Iñigo Martínez, Ferran Torres, and Fermín. The fact is that, on the pitch, everything is working like a charm.

Barça recommends a loan for Héctor Fort

Héctor Fort, a youth-team right-back, has barely featured in the last two seasons. Because of this, Barcelona has recommended he seek a loan. This isn't a question of a lack of confidence; quite the opposite. They believe Héctor Fort is a young, promising full-back who, at 19 years old, needs playing time to develop. However, he won't be able to get it in the first team, as he faces the irreplaceable Jules Koundé, who only received a rest last season when Flick suspended him for arriving late or when he was injured.

Instead, the versatile and growing Eric Garcia has been chosen to strengthen this position. Héctor Fort's departure is the only exit the club is currently considering, although it hasn't ruled out that some players, such as Casadó or Araújo, could request a move if they feel they won't have enough prominence. All this in the same week that Barça expects the auditor to approve the Camp Nou VIP seats deal, which will bring in €100 million and allow the signing of Joan Garcia, Rashford, Szczesny, and Gerard Martín.

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