Too Many Midfielders, Not Enough Spots

Introduction

Barça's midfield is overflowing with world-class talent, but when push comes to shove, only three players will make the starting XI.

The No. 10 Role

Unlike the traditional 4-3-3 system Barça fans have been used to seeing over the past couple of decades, Hansi Flick has brought a new system to the team. Throughout the 2024-25 season, Flick favored a 4-2-3-1 system which includes a true attacking midfielder at the heart of the team. Last season, this position was typically held by either Dani Olmo or Fermín López. Yet, with the transfer window still in full-flow and the club aggressively pursuing an inverted left-winger, all the signs seem to point to the fact that Raphinha will be taking over the No. 10 role for FC Barcelona next season.

So, what does this mean for the team?

After racking up a whopping 38 goals and 24 assists last season while drifting centrally from the left-wing, Raphinha has proven that he can impact the game from any position on the pitch. With Rashford potentially arriving to occupy the left-flank, Flick could have a front four that is direct, efficient, and packed with end product. Ultimately, this may lead Barça to develop a level of attacking dominance not seen since the MSN era.

Central Midfielder

The central-midfield role in Hansi Flick's system demands energy, intelligence, and the ability to dictate the tempo of the game. While Gavi is tailor made for a box-to-box role with his tireless work rate and drive to win the ball, it is likely that Flick will look to Pedri to fill the central-midfield position. In contrast to Gavi, Pedri plays as more of an advanced No. 8: a player who looks to get forward, link the play, and dictate the tempo of the game.

Defensive Midfielder

In Flick's 4-2-3-1 system, the defensive midfield role will be crucial in order prevent counter-attacks and move the play forward. Frenkie De Jong featured in this role for much of the 2024-25 season, particularly with Casado being injured, but it seems the results were mixed. Although they enjoyed a successful season, Barça had major struggles defensively—most notably conceding seven goals to a struggling Inter side. Looking ahead to next season, it seems likely that Marc Bernal will begin to feature more often in the defensive-midfield role (primarily as a pivot). His physical presence, elite composure, and understanding of the game could make Barça significantly stronger both in and out of possession. As for Casadó, he's likely to be a rotational player who steps in when either Frenkie De Jong or Marc Bernal need a rest. Overall, having three capable defensive-midfielders gives Flick the kind of depth many managers could only dream of.

Conclusion

With the 2025/26 pre-season fast approaching, Hansi Flick will likely be looking to experiment with different midfield trios in Japan and South Korea. As Barça fans, we can only hope that our midfield next season is even more dominant than it was this season.