Flick impressed by three Barcelona rising stars

Hansi Flick has made his commitment to Barcelona's youth academy clear since arriving in summer 2024, and this pre-season is no exception. During the training camp at St. Georges' Park in England, the German manager showered praise on three promising academy players: Ebrima Tunkara (16), Orian Goren (17) and Xavi Espart (19).

According to Mundo Deportivo, Flick summed up his assessment: "Tunkara is a great talent, like Orian Goren. And Xavi Espart played very well against Birmingham and in training. It's top level". Tunkara, a versatile attacking midfielder standing 1.78 meters with a contract until 2029, shines for his game vision, technique and ability to thread precise passes. Despite interest from intermediaries, his sole focus is making it in the Barcelona shirt. This season he steps up to Barça Atlètic.

Goren, a midfielder of 1.78 meters comfortable with both feet, won Flick over with his technical quality and composure on the ball. Just turned 17 with a contract through 2028, he shows tremendous development. Espart, a right-back who has already debuted in Champions League against Newcastle last March, has the best chance of establishing himself with the first team thanks to his reliability on the flank and defensive prowess.