Hansi Flick promotes Barcelona youth team star for England training camp – report
· Yahoo Sports
Barcelona youngster Iker Rodriguez is set to receive a significant opportunity under Hansi Flick after being included in the club’s first-team training camp in England later this month.
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According to Mundo Deportivo, the 18-year-old goalkeeper will travel with Barcelona for the pre-season camp at St George’s Park despite uncertainty surrounding Marc-Andre ter Stegen’s future.
Rodriguez has already trained with Flick during the 2024-25 campaign and now appears ready to take another step in his development as Barcelona prepare for the new season.
Flick rewards young goalkeeper with pre-season opportunity
Barcelona’s goalkeeping plans have been affected by the ongoing situation involving Ter Stegen.
Although the German goalkeeper is closing in on a loan move to Ajax, the transfer has not yet been completed because of administrative procedures, meaning he continues to train with the first-team squad.
Iker Rodriguez will join the England training camp. (Picture credit: Instagram/@ikerrodriguez.01)
Despite that delay, the outlet confirms that Rodriguez’s pre-season programme will remain unchanged.
The teenager joined first-team training on Friday and is expected to remain with Flick’s squad instead of linking up with Barcelona Atletic, whose pre-season preparations begin on Monday.
The report adds that Rodriguez is also close to signing a new contract with the reserve team.
England trip offers chance to impress Hansi Flick
Barcelona are scheduled to hold their pre-season training camp at St George’s Park in England between 27 July and 3 August, using one of the country’s most respected football training centres.
Rodriguez is expected to travel alongside Wojciech Szczesny, Aron Yaakobishvili and, once he returns from the World Cup, Joan Garcia, who is due to join the squad after his international commitments.
Barcelona have complete faith in Iker Rodriguez. (Picture credit: Instagram/@ikerrodriguez.01)
For the young goalkeeper, this training camp will be a valuable opportunity to work closely with Flick and Barcelona’s senior coaching staff during a crucial stage of pre-season.
For what it is worth, Rodriguez’s promotion is consistent with Barcelona’s strategy of giving the club’s most promising academy players exposure to the first-team environment at an early stage.
Still only 18, the goalkeeper has progressed steadily through La Masia and has already earned Flick’s trust during previous training sessions.
Remaining with the senior squad throughout pre-season should accelerate that development while allowing the coaching staff to assess him more closely against experienced professionals.