Hansi Flick has approved the departure of a key Barcelona star as the club prepares for major squad changes this summer.
The player has been a fringe figure in the first‑team picture this season, used mostly in rotation or as late‑game cover, which has prompted both the club and the player to see the open‑market route as the best path forward.
Hansi Flick’s inner circle has indicated that his departure would not be actively blocked, framing the move as part of a wider squad rebalance that prioritises minutes for established stars while allowing younger talents to seek regular first‑team football elsewhere.
The Barcelona star whose exit is being green‑lighted is Ander Astralaga, the 22‑year‑old goalkeeper who joined Barcelona in 2022 and has spent the last campaign on loan at Granada, where he delivered solid performances between the posts.
Astralaga is now set to return to Catalonia at the end of his loan spell, only to be informed that he will likely move on once his deal runs out, with Spanish outlet Diario Sport reporting that he is expected to leave the club soon.
Barcelona sees his untimely departure as a low‑financial impact choice, since they would not be receiving a transfer fee, but also freeing up a wage slot they can redirect elsewhere.
For Astralaga, a summer free move opens the door to a fresh start in a league where he can be No. 1, with several mid‑tier La Liga and European sides already believed to be monitoring his situation.
The move would be framed as a mutual decision: Barcelona gains wage‑bill relief and clarity in their squad structure, while the young stopper gets the chance to build a career at a club where he can be the main man between the sticks.
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