Following the twisting and turning saga of manager Xavi’s eventual departure from Barcelona, the La Liga runners up have moved quickly to announce Hansi Flick as their new head coach.
The former Germany and Bayern Munich boss has signed a two year deal at the Camp Nou and he’ll start work straight away having put pen to paper on Wednesday. It’s an appointment which will raise a few eyebrows in Catalonia after Flick was sacked by Germany last September on the back of three consecutive defeats.
But, as manager of Bayern Munich he had a win ratio of 81 per cent, winning the Bundesliga twice in his two year reign between 2019 and 2021 and that’s a stat the Blaugrana fans will prefer to focus on. And as Barcelona look to strengthen over the summer, his Munich connections might work well for Flick.
Bayern Munich midfielder Joshua Kimmich is on the radar and there is a fair chance the Germany star would be interested in a move to Barcelona after his team has just suffered a trophyless campaign for the first time in his nine years at the club. He’s also been used as a utility fullback from time to time, which many Bayern fans view as a waste of his all-round talent as a midfield maestro with a constant eye for producing a killer pass.
Flick’s relationship with Kimmich is certainly in Barcelona’s favour and, while the German press has reported the player has recently turned contact with the Catalan giants, the new Barca boss is pushing for a meeting. The timing might be good as Kimmich has said he is seeking clarification from incoming manager Vincent Kompany as to how he may be used next season, clearly keen to play further up the field. And, as his current Munich contract expires in 2025, the Bavarians will be keen to cash in if the new manager fails to reassure him. .
He missed out on his dream of a Champions League final this season and so, having been played put of position so often this term, Kimmich might be responsive to a potential move.
Flick has a lot on his plate but he will be keen to get new faces in early in the transfer window as he prepares to challenge Real Madrid for the 2024/25 La Liga title. He was, unsurprisingly upbeat in his opening interview at the club, saying: “It’s an honour and a dream to sign my contract here in Barcelona, to work for this amazing club. In the hours I’ve been here in Barcelona it’s been amazing, because everyone here loves the club and tries to give their best for it to have success.”
Flick insists he has the same philosophy as the Catalans, to play attacking and possession based football and the club’s owners will seriously hope they have picked the right man to shift the El Clasico balance back in their favour…but it won’t be easy.
Bellingham is La Liga Player of the Year
Toni Kroos’ impending retirement might be at the top of the La Liga 2024 news agenda this week, but his Real Madrid midfield partner Jude Bellingham has made his mark too after he was crowned the La Liga Player of the Season, seeing off challenges from Girona’s Pichichi winner Artem Dovbyk, Atletico Madrid’s resurgent Antoine Griezmann and his own team-mate Vinicius Junior.
Following his 103m Euro move from Borussia Dortmund, where he was Bundesliga Player of the Year for 2023, surely nobody could have anticipated just how explosive his start at the Santiago Bernabeu would be. Bellingham added goals to his all round midfield play from the moment he scored on his debut, a 2-0 win away to Athletic Club, before he went on to score ten goals in his first ten games for Real Madrid, matching a record set by the legendary Cristiano Ronaldo and, like CR7, at the age of 20 Bellingham has a glittering career ahead of him.
The England star ended up with 19 goals and six assists as Los Blancos coasted to the title and he certainly knows how to endear himself to the fans, saying of his award: “I would like to dedicate it to my team mates, the coaching staff and, most importantly, to the fans of the best club in the world. It’s a pleasure every time I play for this team. Hala Madrid!”
While Barcelona will hope to come back strongly under their new manager, the early La Liga 2024 betting odds are likely to favour their El Clasico rivals again next term. It’s certainly been their year and Los Blancos have a Champions League final against Borussia Dortmund to look forward to and, here at SBOTOP, we’ll be right on top of the action.
Will it be another triumphant night for the Player of the Year and his mate Kroos? I’m not so sure but it certainly isn’t a match to miss.
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