Brian Farinas has been one of the surprises so far at FC Barcelona, with the 20-year-old starlet impressing in pre-season and earning promotion to the senior team.
Indeed, the La Masia graduate has been handed a first-team registration and given the No. 4 shirt, left vacant by Ronald Araujo.
Considering that he was on his way out of the club not so long ago, it shows how much of impact that the youngster has had on Hansi Flick and the coaching staff in training.
One session is all it tookNow, according to Luis F Rojo of MARCA, Farinas needed only one training session with the senior team to convince Flick to keep him around.
Barcelona players began pre-season on 13 July, when the squad reported for medical tests.
Farinas was among them, although at that stage it appeared his time at the club could be short-lived. After all, Barça and Girona were close to reaching an agreement for his transfer for €3 million.
Hansi Flick has been won over by Farinas. (Picture credit: X/@FCBarcelona)
Everything changed the following day. The players held their first training session under Flick, and the German coach was immediately impressed by what he saw from Farinas.
He then immediately spoke to Deco and asked him to halt negotiations with Girona. The manager wanted more time to assess the midfielder, specifically with the intention of taking him to the team’s training camp in England before making a final decision.
From potential departure to the first teamFarinas did more than convince Flick to stay. He impressed the manager so much that his move to Girona was abandoned and Flick decided to give him a first-team squad number.
On Tuesday, the final day of the transfer window, Barcelona registered Farinas with the senior squad and handed him the No. 4 shirt.
His promotion also comes with an unusual distinction. Farinas is the first player in 19 years to be registered with Barcelona’s first team without having previously made his senior debut.
As already reported, Flick has been particularly impressed by Farinas’ attitude and his versatility in particular.
The 20-year-old starlet’s natural position is defensive midfield, but he can also play as an interior midfielder and even at full-back. That ability to cover several positions gives Flick added options within his squad.
The midfielder knows the competition in Barcelona’s midfield will be fierce, but he is ready to embrace the challenge.