Barcelona midfield gem’s Girona move now hinges entirely on Frenkie de Jong situation | OneFootball

Barcelona youngster Brian Fariñas has emerged as one of the pleasant surprises of Hansi Flick’s preparations, but his immediate future remains far from straightforward.

The young midfielder has done enough to earn the trust of the Barcelona manager, who was so keen to assess him during pre-season that he blocked a move to Girona before preparations even began. 

Fariñas responded exactly as Flick would have hoped, impressing the coaching staff and strengthening his case for a place around the first-team setup.

Yet his next move is now closely connected to a completely different story: Frenkie de Jong’s recovery.

According to Mundo Deportivo, Barcelona have ruled out sending Fariñas back to the reserve team. 

The decision is therefore between keeping him with Flick’s senior squad or allowing him to join Girona in a deal that had already been agreed, and De Jong’s situation could be the factor that tips the balance.

Fariñas has given Flick plenty to think about

Brian Fariñas made a strong impression on Hansi Flick. (Photo by Timothy Rogers/Getty Images)

Flick’s decision to stop Fariñas from leaving for Girona was based on the idea that he wanted to see the player for himself, and the German coach was impressed by what followed.

Fariñas showed that he could offer flexibility across midfield, operating as a defensive midfielder, central midfielder and in a more advanced role. 

Furthermore, Flick even tested the youngster at right-back against Birmingham and that versatility has become one of Fariñas’ biggest strengths.

Fariñas has now moved from taking part in training to genuinely convincing the manager that he can contribute in the first team.

But convincing Flick and finding regular opportunities are two different things.

De Jong’s recovery to decide his next step

As such, the situation surrounding De Jong is now central to Barcelona’s decision.

Barcelona are keen to receive an update on Frenkie de Jong. (Photo by David Ramos/Getty Images)

The Dutch midfielder is currently recovering from a rupture of the medial collateral ligament in his right knee, sustained during the World Cup. 

He has chosen a conservative treatment route, although surgery remains a possibility if his recovery does not progress as expected.

Barcelona are monitoring the situation, and the outcome could affect Fariñas directly.

If De Jong remains unavailable for an extended period, keeping the youngster with the first team would make more sense, as the reserve-team route is no longer part of the equation.

That leaves Fariñas in an unusual position. His future will not be decided by his own performances or by the level of Girona’s interest. 

Rather, it will also depend on how Barcelona’s midfield picture develops over the coming weeks.