Barcelona homegrown talent seen as the most logical option to replace injured superstar | OneFootball

FC Barcelona manager Hansi Flick will once again need to adjust his starting eleven for tomorrow’s match against Elche at the Estadi Olimpic Lluis Companys.

Pedri’s injury, which comes as a huge blow, will force the German manager to alter the structure of his midfield.

The 22-year-old superstar had been a permanent fixture in the team so far, starting each of the Catalans’ 13 matches across La Liga and the UEFA Champions League. His absence leaves a gaping hole and leaves Flick with a problem to find a way to replace him.

Marc Casado the logical choice

Now, according to Mundo Deportivo, Flick & co. see Marc Casado as the most logical option to replace Pedri in his injury-enforced absence, which is expected to last more than a month.

The idea is to move Frenkie de Jong into a more advanced position, occupying the role usually held by the Canary Islander, while Casado would operate as the deeper pivot, the Dutchman’s usual position.

So far this season, Casado has featured in 10 of Barcelona’s 13 matches, five of them as a starter, in which he has one assist.

Time to step up. (Photo by David Ramos/Getty Images)

The 22-year-old stepped up in a big way under similar circumstances last season when the likes of De Jong, Gavi, and Marc Bernal were dealing with injury problems. And he is now seen as the most logical option to step in.

Other options at Flick’s disposal

However, the Barça coach also has other options to consider. Assuming De Jong is chosen as the more advanced midfielder, there are two additional candidates to occupy the holding role besides Casado.

One of them is Eric Garcia, whom Flick has already used in that position on several occasions. Yet, the manager seems intent on consolidating Garcia and Pau Cubarsi as his central defensive pairing, thus ruling out a move to midfield.

Marc Bernal would be the other option, although Barcelona and Flick are taking caution with his reintegration after more than a year out with injury.

19-year-old Barça Atletic midfielder Tommy Marques could be an outside choice after Flick tested him in training on Thursday.