Barcelona academy midfield gem will be part of first-team pre-season under Flick

Marc Bernal has been touted as the future starting pivot midfielder for FC Barcelona for quite some time now.

The 17-year-old is one of the most highly-rated young talents at La Masia and became an important player for Barça Atletic in the season gone by, playing at an age group higher than his level and making a big impression.

Bernal will be part of the pre-season

Now, Mundo Deportivo reports that Barcelona first-team head coach Hansi Flick has called Marc Bernal up for the pre-season this summer.

Indeed, the 17-year-old will be a part of the pre-season with the senior setup, starting from July 10, when all players have been informed to report for their medical examinations.

It is claimed that the Barcelona sports management sees Bernal as a midfielder for the future and one of the key pieces of the upcoming generation of young talents at the club.

The same message has been conveyed to Flick by sporting director Deco and as such the manager is eager to take a closer look at the young La Masia gem in pre-season.

Renewal imminent

Before reporting to the pre-season camp with the senior setup, however, Bernal has the small matter of his contract renewal to take care of.

Barcelona and the teenage midfielder have already reached a total agreement over a new deal for him and only the formality of signing the contract with club president Joan Laporta remains.

Bernal’s new contract will run until the summer of 2026 with an option of an additional three years and comes with a release clause worth €20 million.

The likes of Marc Casado and Pau Prim, who play in the same position as him and are slightly older than him, may well be ahead of him. But Barça see Bernal as a first-team material and want him in the dynamics under Flick starting from pre-season.