The latest Barcelona training session before facing Elche featured an unexpected participant as Senegalese defender Mamadou Mbacke joined the first-team group once again. The young centre-back had been involved in several sessions during Xavi Hernandez’s tenure but had not yet caught the attention of current head coach Hansi Flick.
Mbacke’s reappearance is particularly notable because his future at the club was uncertain only a few months ago. During the summer, reports suggested that he might seek a move away, yet he decided to remain with Barcelona Atlètic.
The 22-year-old has previous experience with the reserve team of Villarreal and Los Angeles FC in Major League Soccer, and once completed a run of seven consecutive training sessions with the senior squad under Xavi.
That period coincided with one of Mbacke’s most impressive campaigns, when he became a key figure under Rafa Marquez at Barça Atlètic. He earned praise for his intensity, his aggression in marking, and his natural instinct to anticipate opposing forwards. However, his performances declined last season as the reserve team struggled, and he was unable to recapture the composure and reliability that had defined his earlier displays.
FC Barcelona Atlètic defender Mamadou Mbacke training with Barcelona first-team for the first time under Hansi Flick.
Photo Courtesy: The official website FC Barcelona
Until recently, Flick had shown a stronger interest in other defenders from the reserve ranks, such as Álvaro Cortés, Andres Cuenca, and Alexis Olmedo, all of whom have spent time training with the first team. This latest session, however, as per SPORT, provided Mbacke with an opportunity to reassert himself and demonstrate his qualities directly in front of the senior staff.
It is common for the first team to include reserve players who may not be regular starters, as such involvement helps maintain the rhythm of training while also supporting Barça Atlètic’s match preparations.
At present, Mbacke is not a guaranteed starter under Belletti, but the announcement of the reserve squad later today will offer important clues about whether the Senegalese defender has a realistic chance of being included in Flick’s matchday list.