Like a new signing – Barcelona academy jewel set for a bigger role in Flick’s plans

Barcelona coach Hansi Flick and the club’s sporting director, Deco, have already held several meetings this week to clarify the final stretch of the summer transfer market.

The German manager would welcome a defensive reinforcement who could play both as a centre-back and full-back, but the financial situation severely limits the club’s options.

Everything remains open, but the German coach has already sought internal solutions and believes he has found the reinforcement he needs, reports SPORT.

Jofre Torrents set to be fast-tracked into Barcelona first team

Indeed, as per the report, Flick has decided to advance the plan initially designed for Jofre Torrents, the La Masia gem expected to occupy the left-back position for years to come.

Both the Barcelona coach and the club’s technical staff are convinced that the 18-year-old is a safe bet, although the original plan was to delay his promotion to the first team so that he could continue developing with the reserves. That plan may now be discarded.

Official debut for Jofre Torrents 👏#MadeInLaMasia pic.twitter.com/3okeLJJSJB

— FC Barcelona (@FCBarcelona) August 16, 2025

Flick has seen during pre-season that Torrents is a much more developed player than expected and that he possesses all the qualities needed to compete with Alejandro Balde in the left-back role.

Much more so than Gerard Martin, whose role this season may be more as an occasional left-sided centre-back.

Barcelona’s initial idea was to cover the position for a couple of years, with a stop-gap signing like Alejandro Grimaldo to replace Martin as Balde’s understudy, while Torrents continued to polish his game.

That plan has now been overturned following Inigo Martinez’s departure and Martin’s continuity.

Torrents is now expected to operate as Balde’s understudy, following his official debut for Barcelona against Mallorca last night, with Martin likely to play more as a centre-back.