Flick requests new fitness coach as Barcelona face summer staff overhaul

AS reports the request comes as Barcelona also navigate the departure of two members of Flick's coaching staff. Analyst Stephan Nopp confirmed his exit earlier this month for personal reasons.

Thiago Alcántara, who rejoined as an assistant coach last September, also said his goodbyes to the squad at Friday's final training session of the season and will not continue in his role. The 35-year-old's departure is being driven by personal reasons, including his focus on family commitments and his involvement in co-owning CE L'Hospitalet alongside former Barcelona team-mate Jordi Alba.

Flick paid tribute to Thiago warmly.

"When I made the step up from assistant to head coach at Bayern Munich, one of my first major calls was dropping him to the bench. It was a brutal decision for both of us because he was truly world-class. I changed the philosophy a bit, but his attitude, his mentality, and the way he performed were incredible. I appreciate having worked with him. He is incredible and has helped me enormously as an assistant. I will miss him."

The fitness coaching request is the more structurally significant issue for the club to resolve. Barcelona overhauled their fitness and physiology setup in the summer of 2024, bringing in Julio Tous, and the results were notably positive in Flick's first season — the squad avoided the widespread injury problems that had plagued Xavi Hernández's final campaign. This season the picture reversed, with key players including Fermín López, Jules Koundé and Dani Olmo all missing significant periods.

Several players are understood to have supplemented their conditioning work with external specialists during the season, reflecting dissatisfaction with the current programme. Flick views the addition of a dedicated fitness expert as essential to competing for the Champions League next season.

The club's position is that Tous remains in post and that any addition to the staff would not alter his authority. Flick is reported to be seeking a solution that satisfies both parties before pre-season begins in July.