Barcelona have reportedly stepped in after a surprising Spain U-21 call-up left head coach Hansi Flick visibly annoyed.
The Catalan club found itself in the middle of another international tug-of-war — this time involving 18-year-old midfielder Marc Bernal.
Just as headlines were dominated by Lamine Yamal’s withdrawal from the senior Spain squad due to groin discomfort, Bernal’s name appeared on David Gordo’s U-21 list for games against Norway and Finland.
The news caught everyone off guard — including Barcelona. Bernal has barely returned from a long-term injury and has played just 20 minutes this season.
For Flick, that was a red flag waving louder than Camp Nou’s old matchday anthems.
“Marc Bernal isn’t ready to play many minutes and it’s a difficult situation,” Flick told reporters. “He’s coming off a serious injury that lasted over a year. He’s not 100 percent. The Federation should be careful and take care of him.”
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Flick fights back as Barcelona make their move
The Germany coach’s frustration was quickly echoed by the club. According to Mundo Deportivo, talks were held between Barcelona, the Spanish Football Federation (RFEF), and Bernal himself. All sides reportedly agreed that the teenager’s call-up was premature.
The decision soon followed — Bernal would not travel with Spain’s U-21s. The RFEF announced that he was being replaced by Fer López due to “physical discomfort.”
While the official line sounds diplomatic, insiders believe Barcelona’s intervention played a big part in protecting their young star’s recovery plan.
Flick has carefully managed Bernal’s return, using him sparingly — nine minutes against Valencia, one against Oviedo, and just over ten against PSG. The club fears rushing him could undo months of patient rehabilitation.
Still, Bernal has reportedly taken the decision with maturity. He remains eager to represent Spain but understands the need to wait. For now, Flick gets to keep his young midfielder close — and fit.
Barcelona may have just scored a small but crucial off-field victory. After all, in football, sometimes the best defense is good medical sense.
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