Hansi Flick (foto: Getty Images)
Barcelona manager Hansi Flick is set to hand 19-year-old Dani Rodriguez a first-team debut against Valladolid as he rotates his squad before the Champions League semi-final.
Barcelona fans could soon witness the club’s latest La Masia gem step onto the big stage, as manager Hansi Flick considers handing Dani Rodriguez his first-team debut in Saturday’s La Liga clash against Real Valladolid, according to Mundo Deportivo.
With a massive Champions League semi-final second leg against Inter Milan looming next week, Flick is reportedly set to rotate his squad, opening the door for fresh faces. Among them, Rodriguez—a 19-year-old winger who joined Barca’s academy from Real Sociedad at age 14—is tipped to make the matchday squad alongside fellow academy prospects Landry Farre and Noah Darvich.
Rodriguez’s season has been disrupted by a muscle injury, limiting him to just 10 appearances for Barcelona’s youth side in the 2024–25 campaign. Still, in that short span, he managed to deliver three goals and several key assists, catching Flick’s eye with his creativity and sharp attacking instincts.
Barcelona’s decision to rotate reflects the club’s balancing act between domestic duties and European ambitions. After Saturday’s league game, the team will travel to Milan for a high-stakes showdown on May 6 that could define their season.
If Rodriguez makes his debut, he’ll join a long line of La Masia graduates stepping onto the first-team stage—an exciting sign that Barca’s famed youth pipeline continues to deliver.