Barcelona were dealt a fresh blow earlier today when return-bound midfielder Fermin Lopez suffered a fresh injury and now faces several weeks on the sidelines.
Joining Dani Olmo on the injury list one more, the Olympic gold medallist now gives Hansi Flick a serious headache over his midfield options. After all, Frenkie de Jong and Gavi are still unavailable.
With limited options in the No. 10 position, Flick could well look towards La Masia which always presents solutions in abundance. The midfield, moreover, is the position the academy excels in building stars for.
Barça Universal brings you three players the manager can count on amidst the injury crisis.
Unai Hernandez
If Flick is looking for a stylistic fit who brings a similar profile to the table as Olmo, Unai Hernandez is his man.
The 19-year-old stood out for Barça Atletic last season and has performed consistently, be it as an interior or on the left flank.
Not only is Hernandez the leader of the B team but also brings serious quality on the ball. Apart from his flawless distribution and ability to operate in tight spaces, the youngster is a great dribbler and is astute at moving between the lines.
Just as Olmo does for the first team, Hernandez knows to make the right runs into the box to create a threat in the final third. His finishing, moreover, is top class and he can thus add directly to the goals as well.
Guille Fernandez
The 16-year-old midfielder was called up by Hansi Flick to travel for Barcelona’s clash against Girona last week and it is clear that he is perhaps the best placed to come in after Olmo and Fermin’s injury.
Already trusted by the manager, young Guille offers a profile quite different from Olmo and Fermin in the sense that he does not push as forward in attack as the senior duo.
What he does bring to the table, however, is serious versatility and the ability to operate in multiple positions including that of an attacking midfielder, an interior or even a false winger.
If Guille is to come in, there would be the option of him slotting into the double pivot with Pedri pushing into the attacking midfield role that Olmo has been playing.
Toni Fernandez
The youngest of the three, Toni Fernandez happens to be the highest-rated young talent in La Masia even above the aforementioned duo.
While the 16-year-old Spanish prodigy does indeed boast of great technical quality, comfort on the ball and distribution, Toni has that little extra magic that can serve as an X factor for Barcelona.
Just like Lamine Yamal does in attack, the 16-year-old always brings a certain spark to the game that cannot be replicated. He scored two sublime goals for the B team in his last two games and it is clear that the manager highly rates him.
The teenager can play as a false winger on the right, an attacking midfielder or a centre-forward and it will be interesting to see where Flick has him in his plans should he opt to count on Toni.
