Barcelona's International Break: Flick's Limited Squad and Gavi's Determination
Barcelona head into an odd, stretched international break with something they badly needed: a statement win and a clear plan.
Hansi Flick’s side beat Sevilla 3-1 at the Ramon Sanchez-Pizjuan on Saturday, closing this early block of the season with authority before the squad scattered across the globe. The performance, the result, the mood – all aligned. The calendar, less so.
Flick left with just six
The break is longer than usual, and the big question around Barcelona was how Flick would use it. The answer is now set, but it comes with a twist: the German coach will be working with a skeleton group.
According to SPORT, only six first-team players will be at his disposal in the coming days: Gavi, Gerard Martin, Alejandro Balde, Gabriel Jesus, Brian Farinas and Wojciech Szczesny.
That list does not include the injured Joan Garcia, Andreas Christensen and Frenkie de Jong. All three will remain at the Ciutat Esportiva, focused on their recovery programmes rather than tactical drills.
So Flick’s “group” is effectively two squads: a tiny core of fit outfielders and a trio in the medical lane, trying to get back in time for the decisive months to come.
Four sessions, then silence
Barcelona will train from Tuesday to Friday. Four sessions, six outfield players, one coach trying to squeeze value out of a strange situation.
After that, the club shuts it down.
From 28 September to 4 October, the remaining players will be off. No collective work, no structured sessions, just rest. The squad is due back on 5 October, when the internationals return and Flick finally gets his full deck back on the table.
The design is clear: a short, focused window for detailed work with those who stayed, then a full reset before the season resumes at full speed.
Gavi refuses to switch off
Monday was officially a rest day. No training, no meetings. Flick himself did not even go to the Ciutat Esportiva.
Gavi went anyway.
The midfielder turned up to train voluntarily, choosing touches and drills over downtime. On the next pitches, Joan Garcia and Christensen were also present, continuing their rehabilitation work as they push to rejoin the group.
Fermin Lopez made only a brief appearance, dropping by the facilities to pick up some belongings before heading off. The real collective restart comes on Tuesday, when Flick gathers whoever is left and begins those four concentrated sessions.
Raphinha’s very different “break”
While the players staying in Catalonia are about to enjoy one of the longest breathers of the season, Raphinha’s schedule explodes.
He leaves for international duty with Brazil at the best moment of his career so far. His hat-trick against Sevilla not only killed the game, it launched him to the top of the La Liga scoring charts and underlined his status as Barcelona’s early-season spearhead.
Now comes the travel.
Brazil will play two matches in Australia, sending Raphinha almost halfway around the world, before flying on to India for another friendly. It is the kind of itinerary that tests legs, lungs and focus, no matter how good the form.
Only then will he return to Barcelona, rejoin Flick’s group and pick up a season that, for him and for Barça, has opened with a promise they cannot afford to waste.
