Barcelona’s double-winning head coach wants to get rid of a quartet of exiles to make room for fresh additions in the summer transfer window.
Deco, Barcelona’s sporting director, is working tirelessly to locate new clubs for four players who are no longer desired by head coach Hansi Flick.
Barcelona lost in the Champions League semi-finals against Inter Milan, but had a great debut season under Flick domestically.
The Blaugrana won La Liga by four points over rivals Real Madrid and defeated Los Blancos in a tense Copa del Rey final to secure the double.
However, staying still is rarely a wise decision in football, and Flick understands what it takes to build on a successful season.
According to rumours, the German has identified four players who are surplus to requirements and has ordered that they be released to create place for future arrivals.
Barcelona is said to be close to completing a deal to recruit Athletic Club winger Nico Williams from Bilbao, and they have hired 24-year-old Espanyol custodian Joan Garcia to battle with and eventually succeed Flick’s countrymen and captain Marc-Andre ter Stegen.
With more fresh players on Flick’s wish list, Deco has been tasked with selling the undesired quartet, albeit their departures will have little immediate impact on his intentions on the pitch.
According to Fichajes via Sempre Barca, four players are set to be released: Ansu Fati, Inaki Pena, Oriol Romeu, and Pablo Torre.
Fati, aged 22, was a highly regarded La Masia graduate who appeared in only three La Liga games in 2024-25. According to Sempre Barca, his wage demands may make it impossible to move him, and Flick wants him sold to free up salary headroom for the Catalan titans.
Barcelona’s strategy for Pena was made plain by the signing of Garcia, who will be Ter Stegen’s understudy. Pena made 15 league starts last season, but his opportunities are likely to be limited given the club’s summer additions.
Oriol Romeu, a former Chelsea midfielder, has made few appearances for Barcelona since his return to the Nou Camp in 2023. The 33-year-old was loaned out to Girona last season, and his days at his childhood club appear numbered.
The situation is more tricky for Pablo Torre, who competed at the Under-21 European Championship before Spain was eliminated by England on Saturday.
Torre, at 19, has time on his side and the support of Flick, despite reports that he is not needed.
“It appears that he will go on loan this summer, with Villarreal the most likely destination. Flick really values the player’s potential, but believes he should depart in quest of greater playing time,” according to Sempre Barca.
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