When Hansi Flick named his 22-man squad for the Joan Gamper Trophy clash with AS Monaco on August 4, the omission of Fermín López and Pau Cubarsí raised more than a few eyebrows. These aren’t fringe squad players - they’re the engine room of Barcelona’s present and future. López arrived off a 2025 - 26 campaign featuring 44 appearances, 9 goals, and 7 assists, while Cubarsí was ever-present with 51 outings. Both started the final three La Liga matches of last season, all victories.
The Spanish press was swift to react. Sport reported that both players were caught completely off guard, with the phrase “wasn’t expected” echoing through the corridors of the Estadi Olímpic. No injury. No fitness concerns. Just a “tactical decision” from a coach who claimed he needed to test fringe players ahead of La Liga’s opener against Girona on August 16. But for two players who featured in Barcelona’s starting XI down the stretch last season, that explanation felt thin.
The optics got worse on matchday. As Barcelona edged Monaco 2 - 1 with goals from Lamine Yamal and Robert Lewandowski, López and Cubarsí watched from the stands - not the bench, not the warm-up area, but the stands. Mundo Deportivo captured the image of two players who looked less like rested stars and more like forgotten men.
📊 Fermín López: 44 appearances, 9 goals, 7 assists in 2025 - 26 - He was a guaranteed starter in the run-in, not a squad filler.
| Player | Appearances (25 - 26) | Goals | Assists | Gamper Trophy Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fermín López | 44 | 9 | 7 | Omitted - watched from stands |
| Pau Cubarsí | 51 | 2 | 3 | Omitted - watched from stands |
| Lamine Yamal | 50 | 21 | 15 | Started - scored vs. Monaco |
Flick’s Damage Control: “Essential” or Empty Words?
By August 7, Flick was in full damage-control mode. In a press conference that felt more like crisis management than tactical explanation, the German coach insisted the call was “purely tactical” and that both players remain “essential” to the 2026 - 27 project. He pointed to the upcoming Supercopa de España semi-final against Real Madrid in January 2027 as evidence of their importance, claiming load management was the priority.
“Surprise is normal,” Flick said, attempting to soothe egos while maintaining authority. “There is no rift.”
But here’s the problem: actions speak louder than pressers. When you bench your two most promising young assets for a trophy match - especially one at home in front of your own fans - you plant seeds of doubt. Flick’s “load management” excuse might fly for a veteran like Lewandowski, but for a 23-year-old midfielder and a 22-year-old defender who thrive on rhythm and minutes? It feels like a demotion dressed up as strategy.
The real test is what happens next. La Liga opens August 16 away to Girona. Reports from Thursday’s training session suggest both players are expected to start. But if Flick bottles that too, the “no rift” narrative will evaporate faster than a summer rain in Barcelona.
📊 Pau Cubarsí: 51 appearances in 2025 - 26, valued at €90M - No defender his age logged more top-flight minutes for a top-three club in Europe.
The Ripple Effect: Agent Meetings, Market Watchers, and a Ticking Clock
López’s Camp Demands Answers
The plot thickened on August 8 when Jijantes dropped a bombshell: López’s representatives have formally requested a meeting with sporting director Deco. The reason? A breakdown in trust. Sources suggest Flick had promised López “45+ starts” across La Liga and the Champions League during pre-season negotiations. Missing the Gamper Trophy - a showcase fixture - wasn’t part of that deal.
It’s a pivotal moment for Barcelona’s hierarchy. Deco now walks a tightrope between backing his coach and retaining a player whose €400M release clause makes him untouchable in the market but whose morale is clearly shaken. López isn’t agitating for a transfer - not openly, anyway - but he’s seeking clarity. That’s a polite way of saying, “What are my actual minutes going to look like?”
