It’s true that footballers need talent in order to make it to the very top of the professional game.
There’s only so far up the mountain that can be scaled before a player is found out if he doesn’t have what it takes to not only survive, but thrive.
There are other occasions of course where it’s just about being in the right place at the right time – and then taking advantage of the opportunity that’s been handed to you.
The latter scenario is exactly what’s facing Marc Casado at present.
Fearful of
perhaps being sidelined because of the Catalan club’s embarrassment of riches in midfield, the 21-year-old now finds himself in the position where he can profit from the misfortune of others.
Gavi wasn’t able to play against Rayo Vallecano because of a knee problem which also ruled him out of international duty with Spain.
It’s understood that, at the very least, he won’t be in the squad for the match against Valencia, though that would appear to be very much a best-case scenario.
Hansi Flick and the backroom staff would do well to work on the basis that Gavi won’t be back for a little while yet, because rushing a player back too quickly has had its problems in the past.
And where Gavi and his knees are concerned, the club can’t afford to take any chances whatsoever.
Frenkie de Jong has joined his team-mate on the sidelines after having to be subbed off when playing for the Netherlands against Poland.
Dutch fears were confirmed when De Jong travelled back to Barcelona rather than stay with the camp for their next fixture against Lithuania.
The extent of the injury isn’t clear at this stage and Barca will have to do their own medical tests to determine just how long the player will be out for.
What seems certain at this stage is that De Jong could also miss the match against Valencia, opening up the chance for Casado to really show Flick and the Barcelona support exactly what he’s made of.
Failure to do so again at this point, and there’s little doubt that the club will look for an exit for him either in January or next summer.
Give Flick something to think about, however, and Casado could really be putting the cat amongst the pigeons.
When getting a run in the side last season, before injury curtailed his own claims for a starting spot, Casado didn’t look overawed and in some games was right at home.
He’ll be hoping for more of the same now…
