Barcelona have handed Brian Farinas a place in their first-team squad after Hansi Flick stopped the midfielder’s proposed move to Girona following one impressive pre-season training session.
The 20-year-old was initially expected to leave the Catalan club, with Barcelona and Girona close to agreeing a transfer worth €3m when the club’s players reported for pre-season on Monday, 13 July.
Farinas was among those called in for medical examinations that day, but his stay at Barcelona appeared likely to be short-lived. That changed 24 hours later, when he took part in his first training session under Flick.
According to Spanish newspaper Marca, the German coach was sufficiently impressed by what he saw to speak to Barcelona’s sporting director Deco and ask him to halt negotiations with Girona.
Flick wanted more time to assess Farinas during pre-season and specifically requested that the player travel with the squad to their training camp in England before a final decision was made.
Farinas went on to convince the manager. Rather than allowing him to join Girona, Barcelona decided to promote him to the first-team squad.
On Tuesday, the final day of the transfer window, Farinas was registered as a Barcelona first-team player and given squad number four. The shirt was worn by Ronald Araujo during the previous season.
Flick has spoken positively about both Farinas’ character and his ability. On one occasion, he described the Spain-born player by saying: “He is a committed and very talented player.”
The coach also values Farinas’ versatility. His natural position is as a defensive midfielder, but he can also operate as an attacking playmaker and has the ability to fill in as a full-back.
Farinas is aware that establishing himself in Barcelona’s midfield will be difficult, given the strength of the competition for places. However, he is prepared to embrace the challenge, with the opportunity to secure a place in the first-team squad already representing a significant reward.
The midfielder joined Barcelona in 2018 after developing in Villarreal’s academy. He later won the UEFA Youth League with Barca.
Last season, Farinas made 33 appearances for Barcelona Atletic, scoring five goals and providing seven assists. Those performances helped place him in contention for a senior opportunity, but it was his display in a single training session under Flick that changed the immediate direction of his career.
Instead of completing a move to Girona for €3m, Farinas now has the chance to compete for a role at Barcelona and continue his development within the first-team environment.
