FC Barcelona faces its last preseason test, hosting Como for the Joan Gamper Trophy. This visit from the Italians has coincided with interest in a specific player: Iñaki Peña. He has been on the way out all summer and has the doors open, to the point that Barça has been negotiating his departure in recent hours. Peña is open to a move to Italy and everything has accelerated recently.
The good news for Barça is that Como is interested in more than just Iñaki Peña. Another first-team footballer is highly regarded by the team led by Cesc Fàbregas from its bench. Hansi Flick doesn't count on him and a new destination is being sought, with other interested parties in Spain and the rest of Europe as well. Specifically, we are talking about Héctor Fort, a homegrown player who is likely to leave and has a strong chance of ending up in Serie A.
Héctor Fort interests Como
Madrid-Barcelona has learned that, during the negotiations in recent hours for Iñaki Peña, Héctor Fort's name has also come up. Fàbregas's side has explored this possibility, being interested in knowing his availability and how much it would cost to secure his move to Italy.
Barça has requested a transfer fee of around €10 million (about $10.9 million), keeping 50% of his future sale and the option to buy him back. The homegrown player has great potential, but right now he is not in Hansi Flick's plans. If he ends up leaving, whether to Como or another destination, the club doesn't want to lose future control over one of La Masia's most talented gems.
Flick doesn't count on him
Héctor Fort is one of the most promising homegrown players at FC Barcelona. At 19, the defender stands out for his versatility, tactical intelligence, and composure on the ball. Trained at La Masia, he has shown the personality to compete at a high level despite his youth.
However, Hansi Flick doesn't count on him for the upcoming season in the first team. The main reason is not a lack of quality, but fierce competition in his position. At right back, Jules Koundé is undisputed, while Eric García, with strong performances in the position, can also fill that role when needed. Given this situation, Fort would have very few minutes to develop at Camp Nou.
Barcelona believes that the best thing for his development is to find a destination where he can play regularly and gain experience at the elite level. Flick, who favors meritocracy and consistency in his line-ups, thinks that forcing his presence in the first team without real opportunities could hinder his progress.
Héctor Fort has the qualities to succeed at FC Barcelona, but his time has not yet come. First, he needs minutes for his talent to fully mature. Now he is looking toward Como.