Welcome to the latest edition of Inside Barcelona, our weekly series to follow throughout La Liga’s 2025-26 season.
Every week, we will bring you key information and analysis on the biggest talking points, cutting through the noisy world of all things Barca with reporting you can trust.
The information contained in this article reflects multiple conversations with various sources at the Spanish champions, all of whom wanted to speak anonymously to protect relationships.
What’s the biggest talking point at Barcelona right now?
Hansi Flick’s side reclaiming El Clasico bragging rights on Sunday night with a 3-2 win against Real Madrid in the Supercopa de Espana — which was followed by Xabi Alonso’s sacking by their fierce rivals on Monday.
Madrid’s announcement of Alonso’s exit made Barca’s weekend even sweeter. Dressing-room figures and club officials learnt of the news through social media, with sources close to the team admitting privately that they left the Supercopa final in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, without any sign of what would happen the following day.
Sporting director Deco gave an interview to Catalan radio station Rac 1 in which he said, “I am a bit surprised because he had been there for a short time, he had just started. It is true they lost the Supercopa to us, but there’s still the league to play for and they are doing well in the Champions League.”
Dressing-room sources also said that Alonso’s sacking only strengthened Flick’s position, as he has now seen two Madrid coaches exit during his two years in charge — Carlo Ancelotti left last summer after a season in which they lost four Clasicos across all competitions.
Hansi Flick celebrated a fifth win in six games against Real Madrid as a manager (Jose Breton/Pics Action/NurPhoto via Getty Images
This season, October’s 2-1 loss to Madrid at the Bernabeu was a turning point. Barca have not lost in La Liga since then and have built up a four-point lead at the top of the table. Even so, the dressing room still felt as if they had a score to settle against their biggest rivals following that October result and the melee that followed.
Flick’s side were the better team over 90 minutes. Madrid put up more of a fight than expected, but Barca have now won three consecutive finals against Real Madrid (the last two Supercopas and the Copa del Rey last season).
It is a victory that has boosted their morale and has also made Flick’s team feel as if they can repeat last season’s achievements, when they won a domestic treble.
Raphinha has returned to the peak of his powers and there is a case to be made the Brazil forward is the team’s most influential player at present. Beyond his end product, he has galvanised the side since his return from a hamstring injury in November and plays a key role in Flick’s press.
His two goals against Madrid mean he has now scored four goals in finals against Barca’s fierce rivals. Only one player in the club’s history has more: Lionel Messi with six.
What’s happened since Sunday’s Clasico victory?
The team returned to Barcelona in full-on celebratory mode.
There was plenty of social media activity after the final, with TikTok videos of Lamine Yamal, Alejandro Balde, Rooney Bardghji and Marc Casado dancing a particular highlight.
@beinsportsusa Barcelona’s victory dance with Lamine Yamal 🕺🔵🔴 📹 Lamine Yamal #beINSPORTS #FCBarcelona #RealMadrid
Barca’s ecstatic club president Joan Laporta took some of the spotlight. He spoke to local media after the game and praised Flick’s work. He also hinted the dream of Champions League success is still very much present this season.
“This season, we’d like to revive what we did last term with a domestic treble, but with an extra bit more,” the 63-year-old said to Spanish broadcaster Movistar.
Hours after Flick’s squad landed, a new signing did too. Joao Cancelo arrived for his medical, which he underwent on Monday, and his loan signing from Saudi Pro League side Al Hilal will be confirmed soon.
The 31-year-old Portugal full-back — who played on loan at Barca in the 2023-24 season — is expected to join first-team training as soon as possible. Club sources say it is still unlikely he makes his debut in their Copa del Rey tie on Thursday against Racing Santander.
What else did we learn from the Supercopa win?
Ronald Araujo is back after an agreed period of leave with the club in November — marking his return in style.
Flick brought him on in added time against Madrid, straight after Frenkie de Jong was sent off for his lunge on Kylian Mbappe. Despite those limited minutes, the Uruguay centre-back’s contribution was an emotional one.
Captain Marc-Andre ter Stegen let Araujo wear the armband after the final whistle and lift the Supercopa. Araujo was also lifted into the air by his team-mates after the final whistle.
“This was the return of Araujo, our captain,” Laporta said. “We’ll take it step by step, but I’ve seen him very emotional and happy after the game. He has been very useful because he helped us when we were down to 10 men. It’s been a perfect script.”
Araujo, meanwhile, posted on social media for the first time since his break on Monday.
“I learned that stopping at the right time is self-love,” he wrote. “Taking care of your mind and heart is not giving up, it is trusting that God works even in silence. Stopping renewed me and allowed me to come back stronger.
“The process was not easy, but coming back like this is a privilege.”
Despite De Jong’s sending-off, his display was impressive. The Netherlands international dominated midfield for large spells. Expect him to be back in Flick’s preferred starting line-up from now on.
After a series of games in which Eric Garcia took over in holding midfield, De Jong’s Supercopa displays and Garcia’s solid performances at centre-back should see them stay for good in those roles. Left-back Gerard Martin, who has filled in as a centre-back, was on the bench for the Supercopa semi-final against Athletic Club and final.
Barcelona want Marcus Rashford to stay beyond this season (Jose Breton/Pics Action/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
Barcelona have also shown faith in Marcus Rashford. Senior club figures said last week that they wanted the England international to stay beyond this season’s loan from Manchester United. Flick is extremely happy with the 28-year-old’s contribution and his exemplary training-ground behaviour.
Rashford told ESPN last month that he would like to stay. He has a €30million (£26m, $34.9m) buy option in his contract, but it is unclear whether Barca intend to trigger it or look for another type of deal.
What should we look out for this week?
There is an expectation at Barcelona that Laporta will take advantage of the Supercopa to announce presidential elections very soon.
As we reported last month, elections are due to happen this year. According to Barca’s by-laws, they need to be held between March and May, with the recommendation to hold them on the day of a home game.
Laporta is the big favourite to win the vote for another term in charge of Barca, but multiple candidates have confirmed their intention to run against him.
Victor Font, the local businessman who lost to Laporta in the 2021 elections, has confirmed he will put himself forward. Marc Ciria, another local businessman, has done the same, as well as Xavier Vilajoana, a former club executive who was head of La Masia, the club’s academy, under former president Josep Maria Bartomeu.
It is worth keeping an eye on transfers too — no further incomings are expected after Cancelo, but this week’s Transfer DealSheet details the extent of Girona’s interest in Ter Stegen and Marc Bernal. If Ter Stegen does not start against Racing, it could send a message to the keeper about Flick’s plans for the season.
Additional reporting: Laia Cervello Herrero
