WILL HE HAVE A CHANCE TO STAY AT BARÇA?
Surprising decision by Hansi Flick with one of the clear discards of FC Barcelona
Published:7/08/2024 - 12:20h
Updated:7/08/2024 - 12:58h
Hansi Flick, against all odds, has not hesitated to give an opportunity to one of the players classified as discarded by the club so that he can have minutes in the duel between the Barça team and AC Milan, starting as a starter
The match between AC Milan and FC Barcelona (2-2) left a scene that caught the attention of several sectors of Barça fans, why? Because Hansi Flick decided to include Clément Lenglet in his starting lineup as a defender, partnering with the young academy player Sergi Domínguez. This choice resembled the 'escudo' duo he used in the match against Manchester City (2-2), where the French defender played 74 minutes.
Now, against the 'rossoneri', the Beuvais native accumulated 61 minutes of action, in which he possibly didn't have his most brilliant performance. In fact, he can be seen in the image of the first goal by the Italian team, perhaps marking Christian Pulisic in a somewhat 'timid' manner, who eventually delivered an excellent cross that passed between Lenglet's legs and was struck by Luka Jović. These actions, among others, have exposed certain weaknesses of the former Sevilla player.
The surprise then arises: why insist on fielding the French center-back if the main intention is for him not to continue at the club at least for this season? This could be part of a clever strategy by the Barcelona team, using this tour as a way to showcase Lenglet's sporting performances to increase his appeal and thus seek a new destination before the end of the summer transfer window. However, his performances, full of ups and downs where despite his mistakes he also showed moments of solidity, might not have contributed much to Barcelona's plans.
FC Barcelona's plan with Clément Lenglet remains the same
It is worth noting that everything indicates that FC Barcelona intends to part ways with Clément Lenglet this summer. With a notable 'overbooking' of defenders and considering that the Frenchman seems to be the one least fitting into the sporting plans, it is not surprising that they are looking to sell him. Furthermore, considering that keeping him would entail paying him a salary close to €16 million gross, an exorbitant amount for a player who no longer has a leading role in the squad and would be a significant financial burden for the Blaugrana club.
