Hansi Flick calls-up 18-year-old goalkeeper for first-team pre-season training | OneFootball

Iker Rodriguez is set to continue with FC Barcelona’s first team throughout pre-season, with the highly rated 18-year-old goalkeeper expected to travel to England for the club’s training camp at St George’s Park.

The youngster joined Hansi Flick’s sessions on Friday and will remain with the senior squad despite the delay surrounding Marc-Andre ter Stegen’s loan move to Ajax.

According to Mundo Deportivo, Rodriguez will not drop back down to Barca Atletic when Juliano Belletti’s side begin their own pre-season programme on Monday.

Instead, the plan is for him to travel with Wojciech Szczesny and Aron Yaakobishvili to England for Barcelona’s camp between July 27 and August 3.

Flick keeps close watch on another La Masia goalkeeper

Rodriguez is already familiar with the first-team environment. He took part in several training sessions under Flick during the 2024-25 season despite being only 16 at the time.

Barcelona are also expected to renew his contract soon and register him with the reserve team, a clear sign that the club continue to value his long-term potential.

The current goalkeeping situation has opened an important opportunity. Joan Garcia is still away following his World Cup involvement, while Ter Stegen remains with the squad until the final bureaucratic issues behind his Ajax move are resolved.

That gives Rodriguez valuable time under Flick’s direct supervision.

For Barca, this is exactly what pre-season should offer. Young players need opportunities to train alongside senior professionals and show whether they can handle a higher level.

Rodriguez is unlikely to suddenly jump into the first-team hierarchy, but that is not the point. Spending several weeks with Flick, Szczesny and the rest of the squad can accelerate his development significantly.

The camp at St George’s Park should provide another useful test, with demanding training sessions and first-team expectations every day.

Barcelona have always needed to keep the pathway open between La Masia and the senior squad. Rodriguez now has a valuable chance to show that he belongs in the conversation for the future.