Barcelona academy talent training with Hansi Flick’s squad before Espanyol | OneFootball

A highly-regarded up-and-coming member of the defensive ranks at La Liga giants Barcelona is training with the club’s first-team squad, ahead of their derby meeting with Espanyol.

That’s according to Diario Sport, who point towards Andrés Cuenca as the player in question.

Hansi Flick’s squad is currently short on options at centre-back, with the long-term absences of Ronald Araújo and Andreas Christensen having been added to by Eric García.

The hope, initially, was that the latter would have returned to fitness in time to play his part in Sunday’s Derbi Barceloní.

On Friday, however, Eric was put through an individualised training session at The Ciutat Esportiva Joan Gamper once more.

And as much, as alluded to above, opened the door for youngster Andrés Cuenca to step up to first-team duties.

Cuenca, widely considered as a potential star in the making at Barcelona, has played a leading role for Barca Atlètic over recent weeks.

And his stellar endeavours at the heart of Albert Sánchez’s backline have evidently not gone unappreciated on the part of Hansi Flick and his staff.

After being included in senior training on Friday, the 17-year-old, in turn, could yet be given the nod to take his place in Flick’s matchday setup for Sunday’s showdown with Espanyol.

Conor Laird – GSFN