Barcelona captaincy reshuffle puts Raphinha and Pedri ahead of Frenkie de Jong

Hansi Flick has chosen Raphinha as Barcelona’s first captain, with Pedri named second, after concerns about Frenkie de Jong’s handling of a knee injury influenced the German manager’s thinking.

The decision, reported by Spanish radio station Cadena SER, means De Jong will not take the leading position despite his seniority within the squad and his importance to Flick’s plans. Eric Garcia, De Jong and Lamine Yamal were selected by Barcelona’s players as the rest of the club’s captaincy group.

The process represents a change from previous seasons, when Barcelona’s captains were chosen through an agreement among the players. On this occasion, Flick played a decisive role in determining the order of the first two positions.

Flick is understood to view Raphinha as a figure who reflects his own approach and as someone capable of influencing matches both technically and emotionally. The Brazilian winger has established himself as an important presence within the team, while Pedri also retains the manager’s confidence.

That preference for Raphinha and Pedri moved De Jong away from the first captaincy position, although the Dutch midfielder remains part of the leadership group and continues to be regarded as a key member of Barcelona’s squad.

Flick’s reservations about De Jong are also linked to the midfielder’s response to an injury sustained during the World Cup. Barcelona announced in July that De Jong had suffered a tear to the medial collateral ligament in his right knee.

The club opted for conservative treatment, with medical monitoring and rehabilitation rather than surgery. However, Cadena SER reported that Flick’s frustration was not caused by De Jong’s decision against undergoing an operation.

Instead, the manager is said to have been unhappy with the way the player dealt with the injury and his return to Barcelona. Flick wanted a player who would be more prepared and available to feature in the majority of matches, according to the report.

The captaincy decision should not be interpreted as evidence that Flick has removed De Jong from his sporting plans. The manager still considers him an important player within his system and continues to rely on his qualities in midfield.

However, Flick appears to place particular value on captains who can provide a consistent influence on the pitch. That assessment has led him to favour Raphinha and Pedri for the top two leadership roles, even though De Jong remains a member of the group and an important figure at Barcelona.