€9 millilon-rated Barcelona star shines as Flick amplifies his attacking magic while masking defensive weaknesses | OneFootball

Hansi Flick’s impact at Barcelona is not just being seen in results, but also in the way he is getting the best out of individual players. He has done this with the likes of Ferran Torres, Raphinha, and Eric Garcia in the past season and a half.

The latest example appears to be Joao Cancelo, whose qualities have quickly been amplified within a role that seems carefully designed to suit him.

According to Mundo Deportivo, Flick has once again shown his man-management by putting the Portuguese full-back in a structure that highlights his attacking gifts while protecting the areas of his game that remain vulnerable.

Cancelo arrived as a winter solution after Barcelona were unable to find a convincing centre-back option in the market. Instead, Deco proposed strengthening the full-back department with a very different profile, allowing the coaching staff to reshuffle other defensive pieces if needed. In Cancelo, Barcelona added a player with far more attacking variety than any other natural full-back in the squad.

That attacking value is exactly what Flick seems to be leaning into. Going forward, there have been no concerns about the €9 millilon-rated Portuguese full-back, but the same cannot be said about his defensive acumen and his ability to track tricky wingers.

This is where Flick’s handling becomes key. The Barcelona coach has simplified Cancelo’s role, particularly on the left flank, where he is mainly asked to provide width and attack vertically.

With Raphinha freeing up that corridor, Cancelo does not need to worry too much about sharing spaces or constantly recalculating his positioning. Instead, he can focus on what he does best: driving forward, combining, and making dangerous runs.

When given this freedom, Cancelo becomes a creative game-changer, capable of influencing matches without needing a clear advantage. He has already demonstrated this against Levante, played a key role in the Copa comeback attempt, and formed a devastating partnership with Raphinha against Sevilla.

In many ways, it is another reminder of why Flick’s coaching has been so effective. He is not trying to completely reinvent players. He is placing them in roles where their strengths can shine brightest, and Cancelo may now be the latest Barcelona star benefiting from that approach.