As the summer of 2024 unfolded, few could have predicted that Marc Casado would emerge as a key player in Hansi Flick’s revamped FC Barcelona squad.
Once facing the uncertainty of a contract expiration, Casado has swiftly transformed into the team’s driving force on the pitch.
The midfielder’s youth has not hindered his ability to assume leadership roles, culminating in his recent selection for the Spanish Under-21 national team.
During a recent interview with MARCA, Casado reflected on his journey over the past few months, discussing how he kept his focus on club commitments despite not earning a call-up to the youth national teams for almost five years.
“I played with my club and tried to do the best I could. If the opportunity arose, great. If not, my idea was to keep working with my club,” he said.
Despite many of his teammates receiving national team call-ups, he remained patient. “I knew what I had to do with my club and had to wait for the opportunity. I was glad to finally receive it,” claimed the Barcelona youngster.
It was a hectic summer for Casado, who went from facing the disappointment of missing out on promotion with Barça Atletic to signing a new contract with the club and then becoming a part of the first-team setup.
Reminiscing the whole experience, the youngster shared: “It started quite late for me because we had playoffs in Cordoba with the reserves. We couldn’t get promoted, but a week before the final, I renewed my contract with the club.
“They told me Flick had confidence in me, that he liked what he saw, but he wanted to see me in person during pre-season. I started pre-season with a lot of eagerness to show the coach that I could perform well on the pitch.”
This season has seen a strong start for both Casado and Barcelona, with the youngster himself emerging as a key player in the scheme of things. Acknowledging that he is indeed pleased with how things are going, the…
Source link : https://barcauniversal.com/barcelona-breakout-midfielder-reflects-on-an-eventful-summer-they-told-me-flick-had-confidence-in-me/
Author : Michel Durant
Publish date : 2024-10-15 08:36:00
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