Teenage La Masia star set to be given chance in Barcelona first-team following Ronald Araujo's injury - Reports
Barcelona academy graduate Sergi Dominguez will reportedly get a chance in the first team following Ronald Araujo's injury. The Uruguayan defender will likely be out of contention for the next four months after going under the knife earlier in June. While this will be a cause for concern for new manager Hansi Flick, the club have already turned to their academy in search of a replacement.
Ronald Araujo was key to their performances last season as he played 25 La Liga games, and also scored a goal, and provided two assists. He also helped them get to the quarter-finals of the UEFA Champions League, playing eight matches.
After his injury with Uruguay at Copa America 2024, the club will have to count on others to fulfill his duties in the coming season. There are a number of players like Jules Kounde, Pau Cubarsi, and Andreas Christensen who are capable of playing in central defense.
However, Barcelona would like to bolster their defensive options. While they have financial issues and will find it difficult to buy players in the transfer market, they can turn to their academy. According to Marca (via Barca Universal), they have picked Sergio Dominguez as capable of deputizing for Ronald Araujo.
The 19-year-old only recently had his contract renewed and has been a regular for Barca's youth teams. The youngster has also been called up with the rest of the first team to travel on tour to the United States for pre-season. He will be hoping to take this chance and exceed expectations to improve his potential for game time when the season starts.
Barcelona manager Hansi Flick details expectations
Sergi Dominguez will certainly be hoping that he can impress new manager Hansi Flick, who has spoken to the players and sent out a strong warning. The German tactician has already kicked off pre-season at Barcelona in full swing, and they will be making plans for their trip to the USA in due course.
With La Liga starting in mid-August, Hansi Flick is expecting 100% from his players. He said to Barca One (via Barca Blaugranes):
“I’ve told the players: If you train at 80%, you won’t be able to perform at 100% in the game. Training is crucial for improvement. It’s all about giving 100% in intensity, focus, and showcasing your skills with the ball... Train well, prepare well, and victory will be within reach."
With Flick prepared to put his players through intense training, Dominguez will hope he can meet the standards expected of him in the first team. He has played 22 games for Barcelona Atletic and he will hope to take his impressive performances at a higher level.