Hansi Flick delivers verdict on £83m Barcelona star amid Chelsea transfer links

Barcelona head coach Hansi Flick has thrown his support behind Marc Casado amid speculation linking the out-of-favour midfielder with a move to Chelsea.

Casado establishe himself as a regular เล่น UFABET ผ่านมือถือ สะดวกทุกที่ ทุกเวลา at the base of Flick’s midfield in the first half of the season and receive his first Spain call-up thanks to a string of eye-catching displays, perhaps most notably against Real Madrid and Bayern Munich.

But Casado has seen his minutes diminish significantly on the back of a costly mistake in Barcelona’s 2-1 defeat at home to Atletico Madrid in December, with Flick opting to take the 21-year-old out of the firing line.

Since Barca’s Spanish Super Cup triumph over Madrid, Casado has playe the full 90 minutes on just one occasion and the youngster has not hande a start in any of the club’s last five matches in La Liga.

It has led to inevitable questions over Casado’s future and recent emanating out of Spain claime Chelsea had made an approach to lure the Spain international away from the Camp Nou with the promise of guarante playing time.

However, it’s understood Casado remains fully committe to the Catalan giants for the time being and Flick is adamant the defensive midfielder is still at the forefront of his plans.

‘No, He has not done anything wrong. I am also speaking with him,’ the Barcelona boss told.

‘At the moment it is like this because Frenkie [de Jong] is doing really well, he is also producing a good level in ball possession and key moments.

‘This is what we need and at the moment it’s like this.

‘Frenkie starts, but Casa is also doing well.’

Flick underline that his decision to leave Casado out of his starting XI in recent weeks was nothing personal.

‘It’s not a case of: when one plays, it is something against the other,’ the German added.

‘Everyone has their job. We are one team, and when everyone plays, they have to play well, it’s a normal thing.’

Pressed on his preference for De Jong over Casado, Flick replied: ‘I am very satisfie with the performance of the entire team.

‘It is easy to change players.

‘That is very important and is what I pass on to the team and even more so at the moment of the season we are in.’