Hansi Flick calls up 22-year-old Barcelona reserve team player for pre-season | OneFootball

With the pre-season set to get underway this week, new FC Barcelona manager Hansi Flick is set to hand an opportunity to several youngsters from within the club to make an impression.

After all, a large contingent of the first-team squad will be joining the pre-season camp at a later date while the manager also intends to get a closer look at the youth talent within the team.

It has already been established that talents like Marc Bernal, Mika Faye, Unai Hernandez, and Noah Darvich, among others will train with the senior team in the coming days.

Gerard Martin to be part of the pre-season

Now, according to SPORT, another player from the Barça Atletic squad has been called up for pre-season training by manager Hansi Flick and his name is Gerard Martin.

The 22-year-old left-back was a consistent and standout performer for Rafa Marquez’s side in the season gone by, as indicated by the fact that he played in 41 of their 42 games in 2023/24, missing one only because of suspension.

Martin’s performances have earned him the reward of being called up to the first-team pre-season training starting July 10, when players will undergo medical tests before kicking off preparations under Flick.

With Alejandro Balde the only senior left-back in the Barcelona squad, Martin, should he impress, might have a chance to become a regular part of Flick’s plans, although he will be competing with returning loanee Alex Valle.

Martin is a strong presence on the pitch with his physical frame making him tough to beat in duels on the ground and in the air. The left-back also showcases good attacking ability on the flank.

The 22-year-old’s contract expires in 2025 and if he impresses Flick in pre-season a renewal may well become a possibility.