Double 'message' from Flick to Deco

Hansi Flick left two signals regarding the management of his squad in the victory of 1-2 against Atlético de Madrid on November 8: Alejandro Balde was once again sidelined, and Gabriel Jesus also did not get minutes, despite Raphinha completing the full 90 minutes. Two decisions that raise questions about the roles of both players and the needs that Deco will have to assess ahead of January.

Balde loses ground at Barcelona and Flick seeks alternatives

The situation of Alejandro Balde is one of the most noticeable issues in Flick's planning. The left-back was not a starter at the Metropolitano and did not come on during the match, while the coach opted for other solutions to reorganize the defense.

The decision aligns with the words the German coach spoke at the end of October. Flick acknowledged then that Balde needed to regain confidence to return to the expected level and pointed out that his offensive contribution and pressing ability were important within the team's system, according to RTVE.

The match against Atlético added another element to the debate. Flick turned to Frenkie de Jong to occupy the right-back position after halftime and ended up reorganizing the backline with Eric García and Gerard Martín. Balde, despite being available, did not feature among the alternatives used during the match.

The reading for Deco is clear in sports terms: Barcelona needs to evaluate what performance it can get from the players it already has before deciding whether to go to the market. Balde's absence from minutes does not confirm an exit, but it does reflect that Flick is exploring other solutions when he believes the team needs them.

❗| Hansi Flick has used 12 different defensive backlines in 16 official matches this season. [@gbsans] #fcblive https://t.co/tVf5x4KSAL

— BarçaTimes (@BarcaTimes) November 9, 2026

Gabriel Jesus also does not convince Flick and January gains importance

The case of Gabriel Jesus presents a different issue. The Brazilian forward also did not participate against Atlético, even though Raphinha played the entire match in an offensive position and failed to impose his game consistently.

The decision is significant because Barcelona has a specific center forward in its squad, and still, Flick opted to keep Raphinha on the field for the full 90 minutes. However, a single match is not enough to conclude that the coach has ruled out Gabriel Jesus or requested his departure.

The Brazilian is listed in the Blaugrana squad for the 2026-2027 season wearing the number 9, according to the official list of squad numbers published by the club in September. His role in the upcoming matches will determine whether the lack of participation against Atlético results from a one-off decision or a more prolonged trend.

For Deco, the priority is to identify whether the team needs an offensive reinforcement in January or if it can solve its problems through a redistribution of minutes and functions. The answer will also depend on the continuity of the available players and the needs that Flick communicates to the sports management.

Deco will need to evaluate the signals before the January market

The Barcelona faces the upcoming commitments with two situations that require monitoring: Balde's loss of prominence and Gabriel Jesus's lack of minutes. They are different cases, but both force a review of how current alternatives fit into the coach's plans.

For now, there is not enough data to assert that Flick has demanded the departure of either player. What his decisions against Atlético do show is that he is willing to modify positions and keep other players on the field before resorting to certain options on the bench.

The evolution of Balde and Gabriel Jesus over the coming weeks will be key for Barcelona to finalize its priorities and for Deco to determine whether January should be used to strengthen the squad or to first resolve uncertainties about the resources already at his disposal.