Hansi Flick to include promising 18-year-old defender in Barcelona pre-season preparations – report

Hansi Flick to include promising 18-year-old defender in Barcelona pre-season preparations – report Barcelona’s preparations for the new season will feature another exciting academy prospect, with Juwensley Onstein set to receive his first major opportunity under Hansi Flick.  According to a report from SPORT , the young 18-year-old centre-back has been included in the first-team manager’s plans for pre-season. Notably, the aforementioned development highlights the club’s continued commitment to developing young talent, with Onstein expected to train alongside the senior squad when pre-season begins on July 13.  Furthermore, while his immediate future is expected to be with Barça Atletic, Barcelona believe the defender possesses the qualities needed to eventually establish himself in the first team. Flick rewards Onstein with pre-season opportunity It must be remembered that Barcelona signed Onstein from Belgian side KAA Gent during the January transfer window, viewing the young defender as one of the most promising additions to the club’s academy setup.  View this post on Instagram A post shared by Djoegoe (@juwensleyonstein) Although he spent the second half of last season with Juvenil A, the plan has always been focused on his long-term development rather than immediate results. According to the report, Flick wants to assess the defender closely during pre-season, giving him the chance to train with the first team and adapt to the demands of senior football.  The defender will head into Barcelona pre-season preparations after spending several months without competitive football, prompting the club to put together an individual fitness programme designed to help him regain full match sharpness.  Barcelona convinced Onstein has first-team potential Onstein’s first few months at the club were disrupted by minor injuries and physical setbacks, limiting the number of opportunities he had to build momentum after making his debut for Juvenil A.  View this post on Instagram A post shared by Djoegoe (@juwensleyonstein) Despite those challenges, Barcelona’s confidence in the youngster has remained unchanged. The club believes the centre-back has the attributes required to progress through the ranks and eventually compete for a place in the senior squad.  Aware of the opportunity awaiting him this summer, the youngster has spent recent weeks following an individual training programme to ensure he arrives at pre-season in peak physical condition.  Now, Barcelona’s coaching staff is eager to see how he responds once training begins alongside more experienced first-team players.