Marc Bernal has been ordered to take a step forward in his development by Hansi Flick and build on a strong 2025/2026 campaign.
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Marc Bernal has been ordered to take a step forward in his development by Barcelona head coach Hansi Flick, and build on a strong 2025/2026 campaign next term.
It was Flick who believed in Bernal most upon his arrival in Catalonia two summers ago. Ahead of Barça’s 2024/2025 preseason tour of the United States, the German promoted Bernal and near namesake Marc Casado to the first team group.
With Frenkie de Jong out injured, the Catalan pairing looked to be locks in Flick’s defensive midfield amid impressive Stateside performances against the likes of Manchester City and Real Madrid.
They started La Liga aside one another, yet tragedy struck when Bernal ruptured his ACL at Rayo Vallecano before the season had barely had time to take off.
In 2025/2026, though, Flick didn’t forget about the teenager and his undoubted potential. While Casado has fallen by the wayside, and is being linked with an exit from his boyhood club to fund operations such as Bernardo Silva’s possibe free transfer from Manchester City after June 30, he became an untouchable in the heart of the midfield while De Jong was once more sidelined.
Bernal proved himself to be a rare breed of a pivot with an eye for goal by netting five strikes in all competitions.
These took in an important brace against Atletico Madrid in a Copa del Rey semifinal second leg win which still resulted in an aggregate defeat, plus an important effort from close range in the 7-2 Champions League last 16 tirumph over Newcastle United.
Cruelly, however, we then saw very little more of Bernal as he fell to an ankle sprain picked up against Atleti in the league. Barça opted not to rush him back, while the title seemed a cert and the same opposition knocked the Blaugrana out of the Champions League.
Flick wants more from Bernal at Barcelona in 2026/2027
Though the manager is Bernal’s biggest backer, Flick wants more from him next season according to MARCA.
He must continue to develop is the message from a great believer in youth, and Bernal once again needs to fight for his place.
When the new season kicks off, it’ll be interesting to see if Bernal dislodges De Jong from the starting line up to perhaps sit in a double pivot with Gavi, or behind the number 6 and Pedri as a sole defensive midfielder.
Flick can perhaps start looking at this dilemma during Barcelona’s expected preseason tour of England following the World Cup, which Bernal won’t go to with Spain as a U-21 star.