€30m Barcelona midfielder credits Hansi Flick as the reason why he did not leave on loan | OneFootball

Over at FC Barcelona, each and every single player fights for the right to play regularly. Such are the demands of the Catalan club, as being one of Europe’s top sides also requires there to be a certain standard of quality. However, this also results in several Barcelona players not finding ample playing time at the club.

Even right now, there are players who end up being linked to moves away from the club due to a lack of prominence or playing time. However, one such player who definitely was struggling with this issue ahead of this season was none other than 21-year-old Spanish midfielder Marc Casado.

The Spaniard, as highlighted by Mundo Deportivo, recently revealed in the first episode of ‘Inside Barça’ on the Barça One platform that he was originally considering the option of going out on loan and it was actually Hansi Flick’s arrival that led to him staying at the club:

“The club wanted me to stay, but the initial idea was to look for playing time elsewhere. When Hansi Flick arrived, I was told he had analyzed footage from the youth team and Barça Atlètic, and he saw me as an important part of the squad. In the end, I renewed with the hope of staying with the first team.”

Moreover, the former Barcelona Atletic midfielder also revealed that it was Flick’s guidance that allowed him to flourish. By providing details of what the German coach told them, Casado confessed that he followed his advice and it led him to where he is today:

“I remember what Flick told us at the start of every training session. He would say that if we gave 100%, we would reap the rewards. And that’s exactly what happened. We had an excellent season, both physically and tactically. We gave everything on the field, as he demanded, and I recall him asking me to give my all, assuring me that the rest would come naturally.”

As for the preseason that allowed the youngster to get his big break with the first team, Casado knew back then that it was going to be a decisive tour in the United States of America for him:

“I knew those matches were make-or-break, so I approached them knowing that if I performed well, I could stay at the club I had always dreamed of playing for. I faced it calmly but with great determination. I felt much stronger after the matches in the United States. I think I was the player who benefited the most, as I believe I played the most minutes. There were moments when the coach wanted to substitute me to manage my workload, but I didn’t want to come off.”

Now, with all that behind him, the €30 million-rated Spaniard has established himself as one of the most important pieces in Flick’s system. While Marc Bernal’s injury may have paved the way for him, it is Casado’s own doing that has allowed him to become as crucial to this Barcelona team as he is.