When Minutes Fade: The Curious Case of Casado at Barcelona

Context: Minutes Dip

Marc Casado is sparking debate at Barcelona after a sharp drop in playing time. The young midfielder had a breakout season last year and earned a place in Spain's national team, but this campaign has been different.

According to AS, from December 2023 to December 2024 he played 1,727 minutes of 2,250 (76%), while this season he has only 768 of 2,160 minutes (36.3%), a drop of almost 40% in his involvement.

This shift reveals a new reality for the 22-year-old, who has become one of the last options for the six position under manager Flick.

Besides relying on Pedri and De Jong, Flick has given priority to Eric Garcia in this role, considering him more tactically reliable.

Reports say Flick values Casado's physical effort and enthusiasm, but his forward runs sometimes cause him to lose position, and he is urged to play with more calm in decision making.

With Bernal's improving fitness, Casado also found himself behind him, even with Gavi's ongoing absence.

Despite a shortage of options at right back lately, Flick has tried Casado there, though he has previously said he sees him closer to the six or eight roles.

The move could open doors for more minutes, but it does not change the overall priority list for the coach.

Casado, 22, has a contract until 2028 and a market value around 25 million euros, and last summer he attracted interest from clubs in the Premier League.

Flick reportedly opposed selling him this past summer, saying he does not want to leave, and I do not want that for him, citing his positive role and his availability as a squad emergency option.

Punchline: If minutes were tapas, Casado would still be asking for the menu; patience is a sport too, apparently.

Punchline: In Barcelona they say the ball finds a way; sometimes it finds a seat on the bench instead. Keep scrolling for drama and coffee breaks.