As Hansi Flick begins his role as FC Barcelona’s head coach, he faces a significant challenge in securing a dependable midfield pivot.
The departure of Oriol Romeu last summer created a gap, and Flick initially looked to the promising Marc Bernal to fill it.
Although Bernal made a strong impression, he is now out for the season due to an ACL injury.
With Bernal injured, there were high hopes for Pau Prim, another emerging Barcelona talent, to step into the midfield role.
Despite his impressive performances for Barcelona Atletic, Prim has not yet been invited to join the first team, possibly due to his current contract situation.
Prim’s contract with Barcelona expires in 2025, and talks about an extension have stalled. This delay is partly because Prim is still associated with his former representation firm, despite interest from major agents like Jorge Mendes. This contractual uncertainty might be impacting his chances with the senior squad.
In the interim, Prim has become a key player for Barcelona Atletic, shifting from a secondary role to a crucial starter alongside Guille and Unai, and playing an essential role as a positional midfielder with his precise passing.
Flick now needs to find a solution for the midfield, and Prim’s potential could be vital if his contract and integration issues are resolved.
As Barcelona deals with these challenges, attention will be on how they manage their midfield and nurture their young talent.
