Barcelona preparing crucial meeting with 18-year-old star after Copa del Rey clash amid loan interest

Barcelona are preparing to address one of their most delicate internal decisions once the Copa del Rey tie against Racing Santander is out of the way. 

According to a recent report from SPORT, the club plans to sit down with Marc Bernal and his representatives to discuss the midfielder’s future and define the next step in his development.

It is known that Bernal’s situation is attracting growing attention across Spain. 

The young midfielder has several loan proposals on the table, and Barça are not closing the door to the possibility of him continuing his development away from the club in the short term. 

Barcelona to control every move

As expected, any potential move would be strictly controlled, as the plan involves a straightforward loan deal, with no purchase clause included. 

Internally, this is not being viewed as a lack of belief in the player, but rather as a carefully designed pathway to protect his long-term growth.

Furthermore, Hansi Flick is expected to play a decisive role, and his opinion will carry significant weight. 

This is because the manager is known to be reluctant to let players leave mid-season, especially young profiles he values highly. 

Marc Bernal is likely to leave on loan. (Photo by David Ramos/Getty Images)

Bernal falls into that category, as Flick has shown strong confidence in his abilities since taking charge.

Continuous development

From the sporting management’s perspective, the priority is for Bernal to keep playing. 

There is a strong internal conviction that he has the profile to become a key Barcelona midfielder for the next decade. 

Allowing his development to stall on the bench is not seen as a viable option, even if it means making a difficult short-term decision.

As such, interest in the player is growing. Girona have been particularly active in recent days, applying pressure on both Barça and Bernal’s camp in an attempt to secure his services. 

All parties are expected to discuss the situation in detail towards the end of the week. 

The objective is to reach an agreement that benefits the player’s career and aligns with the club’s long-term vision.