FC Barcelona establishes new captaincy and youth-focused squad

FC Barcelona is undergoing significant structural changes for the 2026/27 season, characterized by a focus on youth and new leadership. The club has established a five-person captaincy group consisting of Raphinha (first captain), Pedri (second captain), Eric Garcia, Frenkie de Jong, and 19-year-old Lamine Yamal. Yamal’s inclusion in the leadership group follows his achievement of scoring 50 professional goals before age 20 and winning the AFE Player of the Year award consecutively.

Strategically, the club has registered the youngest squad in La Liga, with an average age of 24.4 years. To protect its rising talents, Barcelona is prioritizing contract renewals. Most notably, the club is negotiating a new deal for Egyptian forward Hamza Abdelkarim, aiming to increase his release clause from 15 million to 150 million euros to prevent losing him to competitors like PSG. The club is also working to extend the contract of midfielder Marc Bernal.

On the pitch, versatile 19-year-old Xavi Espart has emerged as a key figure in Hansi Flick’s tactical plans, transitioning from midfield to full-back.