Hansi Flick Urges More Signings at Barcelona Despite Rodri Deal with Manchester City

Hansi Flick, Barcelona's manager, has made it clear that the club needs more signings even after securing a £65 million deal for Spanish midfielder Rodri from Manchester City. The German coach insists that the squad requires further reinforcements to compete at the highest European level.

Flick’s Transfer Message

Although the agreement to bring in Rodri marks a significant step for the Catalan club, Flick said, "I think we need a few more players." His statement came shortly after reports confirmed the breakthrough transfer deal. The former Bayern Munich boss spoke openly with the club’s media about his desire to strengthen the team beyond this signing.

Positive Pre-Season Performance Against Basel

The comments followed a convincing 5-2 win over Swiss side Basel at St. Jakob’s Park. Several key players returned, including young talent Lamine Yamal, who scored on a penalty during his first game since the World Cup victory. Flick was pleased with the overall display but noted some areas needing improvement.

"It was a good test for us; Basel played well. It wasn’t easy playing against them. Perhaps in the first half, we didn’t play as quickly as we’d have liked, either in terms of positioning or off the ball," Flick explained. "That’s what we need to improve on. We’ve got potential, and I’m pleased with the test."

He also emphasized the quality and intensity during training sessions as a key factor for optimism: "The most important thing is how we train, the quality and the intensity, and that’s very good. I can see the standard of the team and that’s what matters most. We’ll analyse this match and also the training sessions. And we’ve got a match this week, so we’ll see."

Managing Player Fitness Before La Liga Kickoff

With the league opener approaching fast, Flick is carefully managing his squad’s fitness. He pointed out that rotation in the Basel game was influenced by players arriving just days earlier and preparing for the opening fixture against Elche. He said, "We have to think about who can start, who can play the full ninety minutes, and we can only make five substitutions. All of this influences how we want to manage this match."

New Arrivals Impress in Friendly

The friendly provided an opportunity for new signings to demonstrate their abilities. Karim Adeyemi scored after being assisted by Raphinha, while teenage recruit Jesse Bisiwu grabbed attention with a late two-goal performance off the bench. Flick remains hopeful about the squad’s development but stresses the need for more additions to handle the demands of multiple competitions alongside Rodri’s arrival.

Looking Ahead to the Joan Gamper Trophy

Barcelona now shift focus to their last pre-season challenge: the Joan Gamper Trophy against Egyptian club Al-Ahly. This match represents the final chance for Flick to test tactical setups before the competitive season begins on August 23 against Elche.

• Transfer Deal: Rodri signed for £65 million from Manchester City
• Friendly Result: Barcelona 5 - 2 Basel
• Key Players Returning: Lamine Yamal, Karim Adeyemi, Jesse Bisiwu
• Upcoming Matches: Joan Gamper Trophy vs Al-Ahly, La Liga opener vs Elche (August 23)