Barcelona manager Hansi Flick spoke to the press on Friday ahead of his team’s second La Liga match of the season away to Levante, and the coach offered a couple of updates on the status of two of his players.
The first was full-back Gerard Martín, who is still awaiting his registration to be included in the squad for the first time, but Flick appeared optimistic that Martín could make the trip to València.
“I hope [Gerard Martín] can be available against Levante. I’ve spoken to him, that’s my job.
We’ll see what happens tomorrow.”
Flick also answered a question about Fermín López, who has been involved in transfer rumors all summer. The coach made it clear he doesn’t want any more important departures after losing Iñigo Martínez on the eve of the season, and said his squad needs a player of Fermín’s talent if they are to have another great campaign.
“I don’t want to lose any players now. It will be a tough season and we need players of Fermín’s quality. He did very well last season and at the start of this one. I’m happy with him and the rest, I want to keep them all.”
A big sale of a player of Fermín’s quality and market value would be enough to temporarily solve all of Barça’s Financial Fair Play issues, but Flick has made his feelings clear and sporting director Deco also guaranteed no important sales will be made solely for salary cap reasons.
As for Martín’s registration for the trip to Levante, that will likely come as a result of Oriol Romeu’s departure, which should be made official any moment now once his contract termination is completed.
