Only one Barcelona loanee still has realistic path back into Hansi Flick’s plans | OneFootball

Barcelona’s summer planning is not only focused on signings and departures, as the club must also decide what to do with a group of players returning from loan spells.

In that context, the early signs suggest that most of them will be searching for new solutions away from Camp Nou.

According to Mundo Deportivo, although the majority of the players who spent the 2025/26 campaign away on loan are not expected to form part of Hansi Flick’s plans next season, there is one notable exception.

Among the six players who left temporarily last summer, Hector Fort is the only one with a realistic chance of fighting his way back into the first-team picture.

While several returning loanees, including Ansu Fati, are expected to move on permanently or seek fresh loan opportunities, Fort will be given an opportunity to prove that he deserves a place in Flick’s squad.

Fort returns with a point to prove

Fort will do the pre-season with Barcelona. (Photo by Fran Santiago/Getty Images)

The young full-back spent the season at Elche, where his campaign was far from straightforward.

After initially struggling to secure a regular role, he gradually worked his way up and eventually became an important part of the team. 

Just as he was beginning to establish himself consistently, an injury interrupted his momentum and prevented him from fully building on that progress.

Even so, Barcelona remain encouraged by what they saw during his time away.

Still only 19 years old, the Blaugrana club continues to value his potential and believes he has the qualities needed to compete at a higher level.

Fort was on loan at Elche. (Photo by Clive Brunskill/Getty Images)

However, that does not guarantee him a place in the squad, but unlike several other returning loanees, he will have a genuine opportunity to convince Flick during the summer.

Set for pre-season opportunity

Fort’s chances of remaining at Barcelona may depend less on his loan spell and more on what happens around him in the coming weeks, as the right-back position remains one of the areas where several moving parts could influence squad planning. 

As such, Jules Kounde’s future has yet to be fully clarified, while Flick must also decide how he intends to manage the depth options available on the right side of defence.

Eric Garcia is already expected to have an important role in that position, but Barcelona are still evaluating the overall structure of the defensive unit ahead of the new campaign.

That uncertainty could create an opening for Fort, who must use the pre-season to show that he can contribute immediately rather than simply being viewed as a player for the future.