Barcelona’s pre-season tour of Asia continued this evening in South Korea, but one unexpected twist came in the form of a surprise positional switch for defender Gerard Martín.
Yep, you read that right — and it’s already raising eyebrows across social media.
Flick Rings the Changes at Halftime
Barça took to the pitch for their second friendly of the tour, facing off against FC Seoul. The first half was tight, with both sides having their moments, but the Blaugrana edged into the break with a narrow lead.
Then came the twist.
Hansi Flick, in typical pre-season fashion, made a full XI change at halftime — giving several fringe and young players the chance to impress.
But omo, wetin surprise fans pass be say Gerard Martín no return to his usual role.
Martín at Centre-Back? E No Be Small Something
With Jofre Torrents holding down the left-back spot after coming on, 23-year-old Gerard Martín was instead deployed in central defence, pairing with experienced defender Andreas Christensen.
Omo! This shift no just be small try-your-luck — it’s a full-blown test run 🧪
For those who followed his youth career in Catalunya, this isn’t entirely new. Martín was occasionally used as a centre-back back then. But this is the first major instance of him being tried there at senior level.
Flick Watching Closely?
According to whispers from club sources, this may not be a one-off experiment. With Barcelona’s squad depth still under review, Martín could now be under evaluation as a potential backup in central defence for the upcoming season.
E be like say Flick dey cook long-term squad flexibility — and Martín’s performance tonight could shape his future role.
Now the question is: did he do enough to impress?
Final Thoughts
This pre-season might just be the golden opportunity Martín has been waiting for. If he adapts well, Barcelona could end up with a versatile defensive option capable of covering more than one position.
But if not… Flick might need to start eyeing the transfer market again. One thing’s for sure — tonight’s positional change has given fans something to talk about.
