Barcelona are gearing up for more than just El Clásico this weekend—the club is quietly orchestrating a major piece of business behind the scenes. While all eyes will be on the pitch when they face Real Madrid, the front office is working tirelessly to secure the futures of two key figures: Robert Lewandowski and head coach Hansi Flick.
Lewandowski's contract situation has grabbed plenty of headlines, but this week could prove just as pivotal for Flick. According to reports from Mundo Deportivo, Barcelona have a clear plan in place: they intend to officially announce Flick's contract extension only after the team wins La Liga. This condition, interestingly, comes from the German coach himself.
If Barcelona clinch the title on Sunday—a huge "if" given the intensity of the title race—the announcement could come as early as next Tuesday. The club has already mapped out a celebratory parade through the city on Monday, mirroring last season's festivities after their domestic treble triumph.
The proposed extension would keep Flick at the Camp Nou until June 2028, with his current deal set to expire in June 2027. There's also an optional additional year, which can be activated by mutual agreement under certain conditions. Barcelona are reportedly keen to lock him down until 2029, signaling their long-term faith in his leadership.
Super-agent Pini Zahavi, who represents both Flick and Lewandowski, arrived in Barcelona last Wednesday to help finalize the deal. Early Thursday morning, president Joan Laporta visited Zahavi at his hotel on Passeig de Gracia for a marathon three-hour meeting. The focus? Putting the finishing touches on a contract that's been agreed in principle for weeks.
Zahavi is also expected to meet with sporting director Deco, who has been away on personal business in Brazil but is set to return before El Clásico. Once those final formalities are squared away, the deal will be ready to sign.
For Barcelona fans, the message is clear: the club is building for the future, and they want Flick at the heart of it. Whether that announcement comes with a league trophy in hand remains to be seen, but the pieces are falling into place.