Selling Casado now would be a mistake by Barcelona

Photo credit should read Sergio Ros de Mora / GocherImagery/Future Publishing via Getty Images

In the end, Marc Casado’s 24/25 campaign disappointingly fizzled out after he sustained a partial tear of the lateral collateral ligament in his right knee on March 16 during the game against Atletico Madrid.

He missed 14 matches though was available again by the end of the season, evidencing a clear desire to want to get back to helping the squad and team as quickly as possible. You wouldn’t expect anything less from the committed midfielder.

Before injury curtailed his campaign, Casado had enjoyed

a strong breakout season but then lost his place to Frenkie de Jong once the Dutchman had returned to fitness after continued ankle problems.

Competition for places in midfield is going to be a recurring theme in the coming campaign and is probably why the rumor mill has been churning out talk of a possible summer exit for Casado.

He will know better then anyone now that he has to bring his level up ahead of the 25/26 season and keep it there if he wants to put any transfer talk to bed.

Photo by Juan Manuel Serrano Arce/Getty Images

Marc Bernal will return to the fold after his own knee concerns, which kept him out for almost the entire season. Not to mention the other midfielders who can all do a job for Hansi Flick in defensive midfield, depending on the formation he prefers.

Casado’s aim has to be to become the de facto holding midfielder for the starting XI moving forward, and if he’s given enough playing time next season, there’s every reason to believe that he can do just that.

However, therein lies the rub. Will he get enough game time?

Bernal, often compared - perhaps unfairly - to a young Sergio Busquets - is almost certain to be the first choice in the defensive midfield position when fully fit, leaving Casado to either play alongside him in a double pivot or, more likely, sat on the bench and ready to provide the odd cameo here and there.

If Casado’s not able to make any headway whatsoever with Flick then, the 21-year-old can be forgiven for eyeing a move away in 12 months’ time - but not before.

Photo by Judit Cartiel/Getty Images

By then he will know whether there’s a genuine chance to make a name for himself at Barcelona or not.

Solidity in defensive attributes has to be a recurring theme because goals (just one in his entire career) isn’t his forte.

Simply put, if he’s given his chance either at the start of the season or midway through, he needs to grab it with both hands, and make it an easy choice to keep him in the side once he’s won his place in the starting XI.

You don’t change a winning team, even if that means keeping fan favourites sidelined.

The tour of Japan and South Korea is unlikely to tell us much in terms of Flick’s thinking for the league season but it will give every player he uses the chance to stake a claim.

Though Casado isn’t yet at the last chance saloon, he has drifted to the periphery of the squad at this point, and his only focus should be on ensuring that when the first ball of the new season is kicked against Mallorca, that he is part of proceedings.

It could be a long, hard road for him otherwise...

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