Flick names Yamal among Barcelona captains
Hansi Flick has revealed that Raphinha, Pedri and Lamine Yamal will be three of Barcelona's captains for this season, with the latter voted to the role by his team-mates ahead of Monday's (AEST) trip to Valencia.
Eric Garcia and Frenkie de Jong will round out Barca's leadership group for 2026-2027, with Flick waiting until the end of the transfer window before confirming his captains.
The Blaugrana have made a perfect start to their quest for a third straight LaLiga crown, beating Elche 5-0, Athletic Club 2-0 and Rayo Vallecano 5-2 in their first three games.
Next up, they go to Estadio de Mestalla to face a Valencia side stranded on one point from three matches, after back-to-back defeats to Real Betis and Deportivo La Coruna.
Barca's thumping win over Rayo saw Yamal and Raphinha both score braces, with Spain's 2026 FIFA World Cup-winning winger getting off the mark for the campaign after two goalless games.
Both of those players will hold senior roles in the dressing room this season, as Flick said: "I have decided on two captains, and the other three were voted by the players.
"For me, when I see the team and the players we have, with their influence on the team, I see Raphinha and Pedri as captains.
"I don't want to choose the others; I wanted the players to choose, because they [Yamal, De Jong and Garcia] are important, and they are fixed in the XI.
"It was an easy decision, because now I know the team better. In previous seasons we had players like Marc-Andre [ter Stegen] or [Ronald] Araujo [as captains], who weren't playing much.
"With the choice of the team and the five, I'm happy; we'll need players who can talk, who take responsibility."
Flick also revealed that Yamal had been forced to train separately after suffering a knock, although he will be part of Barca's travelling squad and could be involved.
Flick has a new face among his attacking options this weekend, after Barca completed the signing of Gabriel Jesus from Arsenal.
Jesus scored 32 goals and assisted 18 in 123 outings for the Gunners, before falling out of favour as Mikel Arteta's side won the Premier League last season.
But Flick revealed the Brazilian will be on the bench this weekend, saying: "I really liked what I have seen; he's not 100 per cent, but he's ready to play some minutes.
"He is one of the options for the second half, depending on how the game goes, but he is certainly ready. He's very calm in front of goal."
Lamine Yamal Nasraoui Ebana
FC Barcelona
