Hansi Flick has found the replacement for Pedri, who was injured in the El Clásico and will miss the next three weeks.
Pedri, Barcelona’s 21-year-old midfield maestro, has been the creative pulse of Hansi Flick’s high-pressing machine this season, orchestrating transitions with vision and tenacity that have anchored the Blaugrana’s early La Liga dominance.
His unfortunate distal biceps femoris rupture, confirmed after El Clásico discomfort, sidelines him for three weeks, missing Elche, Club Brugge, and Celta Vigo.
Flick’s tactical ingenuity now turns inward, reshuffling a squad already stretched by Dani Olmo’s lingering issues and absences like Gavi and Raphinha.
The replacement is Marc Casadó, the 21-year-old La Masia product from Sant Pere de Vilamajor, emerging as the logical pivot to fill the void.
Mundo Deportivo reports Casadó’s seamless fit: with Frenkie de Jong shifting forward to Pedri’s advanced role, Casadó drops into the retracted midfield anchor, leveraging his 10 appearances in 13 matches—including late Clásico minutes.
His composure, ball recovery, and positional discipline make him ideal, outshining alternatives like Eric García (better suited defensively with Pau Cubarsí) or 19-year-old filial prospect Tommy Marqués.
Casadó’s breakthrough this term—captaining Barça Atlètic to Segunda RFEF leadership—highlights his readiness.
De Jong and Fermín López will handle advanced duties, while Olmo and Marc Bernal ease back cautiously, the latter post-year-long knee rehab.
Flick’s faith in youth echoes his Bayern blueprint, prioritizing gradual integration.
Barcelona’s depth shines through this pivot, with Robert Lewandowski and Lamine Yamal’s returns adding firepower.
For Flick, Casadó isn’t just a stopgap; he’s a blueprint for sustainability, ensuring Pedri’s absence fuels evolution rather than disruption.
As Montjuïc hosts Elche, this reshuffle tests Barcelona’s resilience in the title race.
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