Hansi Flick calls up out-of-favor Barcelona player to replace injured Dani Olmo for Benfica clash | OneFootball

Following a disappointing 1-1 draw against Getafe in La Liga on Saturday night at the Coliseum Alfonso Pérez, Hansi Flick’s Barcelona now shift their focus to the UEFA Champions League, where they are set to face S.L. Benfica on Tuesday night at the Estádio do Sport Lisboa e Benfica.

The Catalans not only dropped two crucial points against Getafe, but they also suffered a major setback as one of their key players, Dani Olmo, sustained a muscle injury. The injury has ruled him out of the upcoming clash against Benfica, and he is expected to be sidelined for the next 10 days, potentially missing a few more games.

As the saying goes, one man’s loss is another man’s gain. This holds true for an out-of-favor Barcelona player, who has been included in the squad for the clash against Benfica to replace the injured Dani Olmo, according to Mundo Deportivo.

The player is none other than Ansu Fati, who has been linked with a move away from the club and appears to be out of Hansi Flick’s plans. Despite being fully fit, Fati was left out of Flick’s last four consecutive squad lists.

Photo by Eric Alonso/Getty Images

The 22-year-old Barcelona forward has been struggling for game time, and the club is reportedly considering sending him out on loan during the ongoing January transfer window for two main reasons. First, to ensure the player gets regular minutes, and second, to free up salary space to potentially bring in Marcus Rashford on loan.

However, this latest call-up might not be an indication of a change of plans but could provide Fati with an opportunity to showcase what he could still offer to Hansi Flick if given a chance at some point during the game, as he is reportedly still reluctant to leave the Catalan giants.

The rest of the squad largely remains unchanged, with the exception of a swap in backup goalkeepers, as Diego Kochen replaces Ander Astralaga.