Hansi Flick Delays FC Barcelona Captaincy Vote and Names Interim Leaders

Raphinha will step up to lead FC Barcelona against Al Ahly in Wednesday’s Gamper Trophy fixture as head coach Hansi Flick delays a permanent leadership decision. Eric Garcia and Pedri will join the Brazilian winger in a temporary captaincy group for the opening stretch of the 2026-27 campaign.

Flick confirms the interim armband holders

Flick clarified to Barcelona’s in-house media channels, in statements cited by Barca Universal, that organizing a formal vote remains on hold until roster moves conclude. Consequently, Raphinha takes charge of the squad in the short term, supported by Eric Garcia and Pedri as interim co-captains prior to Wednesday’s Gamper Trophy clash against Al Ahly.

Before kickoff, the Brazilian winger is scheduled to speak to supporters at Camp Nou in place of Frenkie de Jong, who would typically assume captaincy duties but continues his recovery from a medial collateral ligament injury suffered during the World Cup.

Raphinha celebrates after scoring for FC Barcelona.
Why the hierarchy needed reshaping

FC Barcelona lost two core leaders from their established captaincy order this summer following the exits of Marc-Andre ter Stegen and Ronald Araujo, compelling Flick to construct an emergency framework. With De Jong also out of action, the team lacked an active senior captain for preseason, leading management to appoint Raphinha to the top post instead of waiting for De Jong to heal.

At Barcelona, first-team captaincy has traditionally been determined by a secret ballot conducted exclusively by the players, a practice that ensures the locker room selects its own leaders. By establishing a temporary trio, Flick preserves this club tradition while giving management flexibility to finalize roster additions before the squad casts its formal ballots.

Flick stresses nothing is final

Flick emphasized that the present arrangement is purely transitional rather than a permanent structure. The manager noted that holding a binding election right now makes little sense while player transfers remain ongoing ahead of the deadline. Until all roster changes are completed, Raphinha will maintain the captaincy alongside Eric Garcia and Pedri.

Hansi Flick speaks at a press conference as FC Barcelona head coach.

This distinction is critical because players will elect their long-term leaders once the transfer window closes, leaving open the possibility that De Jong surpasses Raphinha in the official vote. A report by OneFootball covering the manager’s statements similarly highlighted that Flick considers this dynamic purely provisional.

What happens next

When the roster freezes and the locker room finally votes, Frenkie de Jong remains a primary contender to reclaim top hierarchy status upon returning from his knee rehabilitation. In the interim, the team’s leadership rests with its temporary trio as FC Barcelona navigates both summer transfer business and early competition.