Marc Casado has recently cemented his spot in Barcelona’s first-team after rising through the ranks of La Masia. After a terrific start to this year, we will be looking at his playing style and what changed for him under Hansi Flick.
How Marc Casado Emerged This Season
Career So Far
From joining La Masia at age 13 in 2016, it was clear Casado was always going to be a talent. As he got older, more achievements came as he helped Barcelona’s Juvenil A team win gold on two occasions in 2021 as captain. This would then lead to him progressing to the reserve team called Barcelona Atlètic. Once again, the Spaniard impressed as in his second season he became captain for the side and led them agonisingly close to glory as they lost in the play-offs.
In terms of international appearances for Spain, Casado has also been a prominent figure. Spain U16 and U17 sides are in his resume and so is the u21 squad as he returned to the youth setup after four years out. Then last year, after impressing in the early stages of the season, the youngster would pick up his debut for the European Champions in a 2-1 win against Denmark and then start three days later against Switzerland.
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In the first team, not many chances came until this season. Xavi did give him his debut for the club, but in the two years with Casado, he only played him for a total of 58 minutes. This was despite him training regularly with the senior squad and many injuries coming for the likes of Pedri and Gavi. Sergio Roberto was often preferred over him as the 32-year-old played 24 times last season. A move away looked likely for the 2024/25 season.
However, this would all change when Flick arrived. Injuries to Frenkie De Jong, Gavi and Pedri led to Casado being started in pre-season alongside fellow academy graduate Marc Bernal. The duo then opened up the season with a 2-1 win over Valencia, but once Pedri returned, Casado would be benched. This was until Bernal was sidelined with a cruciate ligament injury in August. This opened up a space in Flick’s system and he has been there ever since.
Playing Style
The 21-year-old has been a prominent figure in Flick’s side this season and here’s why. Casado originally played with Bernal in the pivot and he was in the more advanced role, but Pedri quickly replaced him here. Since then, he has played the deeper role due to Bernal’s injury and because his teammates wouldn’t have been suitable there.
Defensively, he has already shown his capabilities and why he is a better option in the pivot. This season he is fourth in Europe’s top seven leagues for sliding tackles with 17, which is crucial to his side in breaking up play and creating turnovers for counter-attacks. This is further supported by him being in the top three percentile for tackles in the mid-third of the pitch. Furthermore, he is third in Europe’s top five leagues for Under-21’s successful defensive actions as he has reached 132 so far. This balance allows Pedri to progress in a way that options like De Jong couldn’t.
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In possession, he is also strong as shown by these numbers. He on average completes 66 passes per 90, which is in the top seven percentile, but with variety, as he excels with both short and medium-range passing types. This shows that he is a great option for dictating the tempo and keeping the game moving but also for unlocking defences. His figures for passes into the final third are terrific and show that he can take risks and make line-breaking passes. On average, he makes 7.67 passes into the final third which is in the top seven percentile, thus emphasising his balanced and well-rounded profile.
It isn’t just on the ball, where he is at his best either. His leadership qualities are majorly important as he was always a leader throughout his time at La Masia. Flick is regularly seen talking to him during games and looking to relay instructions through him. These leadership qualities are another key part of his game and could be a reason to choose Casado with all of the young players in the squad.
The Future
The talented midfielder, who admires legends like Sergio Busquets is now a pivotal part of Hansi Flick’s squad. He has made 23 appearances now this season in all competitions, which shows how much his manager trusts him in controlling games and protecting the backline.
As a result of the La Masia graduates form, De Jong is now struggling to gain minutes. The Dutchman has started just three games this season, which shows that he has mostly come off the bench for his 15 appearances this campaign. For Casado to displace De Jong after such little experience at this level shows the talent he possesses.
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Despite this, his position in the squad isn’t guaranteed. The major injury that came to Bernal was what led to Casado’s minutes as the 17-year-old was the preferred option originally in the deeper role. Therefore once he returns it will be interesting to see who Flick prefers. Casado is improving every week as he plays more often but Bernal’s youth, technique and athletic build make him an appealing option for the German manager.
