Barcelona head into the 2025/26 La Liga season with exciting additions at both ends of the pitch for Hansi Flick.
The former Bayern Munich boss stormed to a sensational trophy treble in his debut 2024/25 campaign in Catalonia but his transfer budget has been restricted this summer.
Flick moved quickly to bring in Joan Garcia from neighbours Espanyol, with an eye to making the 24-year-old his No.1, alongside a bold season-long loan swoop for Manchester United forward Marcus Rashford.
However, neither arrival has ben straightforward, with the duo amongst seven players yet to be registered with La Liga, due to salary restrictions in place at the Spanish champions.
The sale of Inigo Martinez to Al Nassr has released some funds, but the club need La Liga to accept their salary space request over Marc-Andre ter Stegen’s injury absence, after reaching a resolution with the Germany international.
If La Liga accept Ter Stegen will be out for five months or more, following back surgery, that should allow Flick to have Garcia and Rashford registered before facing Mallorca in their La Liga opener on August 16.
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Rashford has impressed in preseason, with a first club goal in the 5-0 win over South Korean side FC Daegu, and he could be fast tracked into Flick’s starting lineup due to Robert Lewandowski’s latest injury.
Robert Lewandowski injury update: Games missed, Rashford replacement option
Flick has expressed his confidence of Rashford being to cover Lewandowski as a central attacker – and Raphinha out wide – and that could be put into practice against Mallorca.
Barcelona have confirmed a muscle injury for the 36-year-old striker in recent days, and he will miss the Joan Gamper Trophy against Como, and he is almost certain to be out of the running for the trip to Palma.
All three of Barcelona first games of the new season will be played away from home – at Levante [August 23] and Rayo Vallecano [August 30] – as they aim for a Camp Nou return in mid-September.
There are mixed reports over Lewandowski’s availability for those two games, but Diario AS indicate 2-3 weeks for a full recovery, which could rule him out until September.
Lewandowski is keen to return for Poland in the September break, and Barcelona may opt against a risk, as Flick gives Rashford a starting chance.
The England international faces a career crossroads in the coming months after scoring just 13 Premier League goals in the last two seasons.
