Barcelona put Flick’s request for first-team residence at training ground on hold – report | OneFootball

According to the Barça Reservat podcast (h/t SPORT), FC Barcelona have decided to put their planned first-team residence at the Ciutat Esportiva Joan Gamper, a request from manager Hansi Flick, on hold for the time being.

Indeed, the Catalans have temporarily shelved plans to build the accommodation facility next to the training facilities and are instead focusing their current resources on a new gym, another of Flick’s requests.

Residence plan postponed

The residence was planned as an exclusive facility for first-team players. Its purpose would be to make it easier for the squad to stay together before matches, as well as providing a dedicated space for rest after matches and training sessions.

Since arriving as head coach, Flick has reinstated the practice of having the team stay together before certain matches, including some home fixtures.

Flick wanted a dedicated first-team residence built at the training ground. (Photo by Daniela Porcelli/Getty Images)

As such, Barcelona had previously approved the residence project. However, the construction has now been postponed because of the club’s current investment priorities.

As per the report, the cost of the residence is expected to be around €12 million to €14 million, considerably more than the €6 million initially budgeted.

The decision does not mean the project has been cancelled permanently, as Barça intend to revisit it at a later stage.

The new gym takes priority

The immediate priority is the new gym being built next to the Camp Tito Vilanova. The facility was requested by Flick to increase the space available for the first team to work on physical preparation.

Flick has also requested for a new gym at the Ciutat Esportiva. (Photo by David Ramos/Getty Images)

The existing gym, located in one of the buildings at the Ciutat Esportiva, had become too small for the squad’s growing requirements in areas such as physical conditioning, recovery and individual training.

The new facility is being constructed almost directly alongside the training pitch and will feature large windows overlooking the field.

As per the report, the structure is already largely complete. The gym will allow the coaching staff to combine outdoor training with specific work on strength, flexibility and speed, as well as recovery exercises.

The new gym therefore addresses an immediate requirement identified by Flick’s coaching staff, while the first-team residence has been moved to a later phase