Hansi Flick to award debut to promising midfielder against Elche in a major show of faith in the club’s academy pipeline.
Hansi Flick’s relentless faith in Barcelona’s youth pipeline signals a major milestone looms at Elche’s Martínez Valero this weekend.
The German tactician has earmarked a La Masia prodigy as his go-to solution for midfield depth, balancing first-team integration with reserve minutes amid a packed La Liga title chase.
That teenage star is 19-year-old Tommy Marques, whose seamless first-team training rhythm has Flick promising an imminent debut despite no official outing yet.
Per Diario Sport, the coach pulled Marques aside to stress patience, praising his growth and elite exposure while toggling between Barca Atletic duties and senior sessions—14 reserve appearances already this season.
Hansi Flick trust shines through: Marques featured 60 minutes for the B-team versus CE Poblense, then lined up with the seniors against Real Oviedo the next day, navigating Juliano Belletti’s reserves sans prior prep.
Though absent from tonight’s Elche squad list, his breakthrough feels seconds away, especially with Pedri sidelined by hamstring woes and squad rotation key post-Champions League exertions.
At 19, Marques embodies La Masia’s sponge-like adaptability, absorbing daily lessons from Dani Olmo, Frenkie de Jong, and Flick’s high-pressing blueprint despite the gruelling dual-team grind.
His technical poise and tactical nous make him ideal for injecting fresh legs into a leader’s side eyeing nine straight Elche wins, unbeaten in ten Martínez Valero visits.
Barcelona’s treble defence demands such gems; Flick’s youth revolution—echoing Yamal and Cubarsí—thrives on rewarding readiness over reputation.
Elche, scrapping three points above relegation, face a juggernaut blending experience with teenage dynamite, but Flick eyes Marques as the X-factor to seal three points Saturday night.
Should debut arrive, expect a Camp Nou roar via global screens; La Masia’s next heartbeat accelerates toward stardom under Flick’s unwavering gaze.
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