An under-the-radar signing essential for Hansi Flick

BarcelonaBarça has convincingly won the League thanks to a competitive spirit developed in relation to last season. The Blaugranes have achieved the objective with three games to spare against a Real Madrid in tatters. Nevertheless, Hansi Flick, recently renewed until 2028, has not been satisfied with the team's performance in certain stages of the season due to muscular injuries. Key players in the squad such as Lamine Yamal, Pedri, or Raphinha suffered around decisive matches, and this – according to the German coach's feelings – has deprived the Culer team, for example, of progressing further in the Cup and the Champions League, two objectives lost to the same rival, Atlètic de Madrid.

Physical problems, as has been explained at ARA on other occasions, have caused considerable tension in the Barça dressing room this season. One of the most tense moments was in the autumn of 2025, when a series of injuries and relapses led to readaptations being coordinated again by the medical services after, at the beginning of the season, this responsibility had shifted to the physical preparation department. The change in protocol calmed the complaints of key players in the squad, but did not make them disappear. In fact, already in 2026, a prominent group of footballers reiterated that new approaches in physical preparation were needed to perform better, prevent injuries, and rely less on external professionals paid out of their own pockets.

As the months have passed, Flick has gone from seeking understanding among the members of his staff to improve the team's performance to sharing the diagnosis of most of his players. Furthermore, with the second consecutive League title and the contract extension – with which he has satisfied Joan Laporta's desire – under his belt, he has felt legitimized to request new profiles for his work team.

Over the months, Flick has gone from seeking understanding among the members of his

What will happen to Julio Tous?

According to what ARA has learned, the arrival of a new professional in the Barça setup will not affect the role of the current head of physical preparation, Julio Tous, in the first team's organization. In fact, the sports management's idea is not only to keep the Canary Islander on the payroll at least until June 30, 2027, when his contract ends, but to renew him for two or three more seasons. Tous is the bet that the tandem formed by Deco and Alejandro Echevarría in the sports management made before Xavi Hernández's dismissal as coach. With the man from Terrassa out, Pepe Conde was brought in, who since the summer of 2024 has been in charge of warming up the players on the pitch, as well as Rafa Maldonado and Germán Fernández, two more coaches. All three are of the utmost confidence of Tous.

What is expected, however, is that there will be some movement among the physios and recovery staff, but always keeping Raúl Martínez at the head of this area. What is already known for sure is that Thiago Alcántara will cease to be part of Flick's staff to dedicate himself more intensely to his projects, such as in l'Hospitalet, an entity of which he is a shareholder with ex-culer Jordi Alba. There has also been an exit from the scouting team. Stephan Nopp, brought in at Flick's request, is leaving his position for personal reasons.