FC Barcelona Star Left Out of Valencia Match, Sparks Sale Rumors

In a surprising move, FC Barcelona head coach Hansi Flick has left one of the team's prominent stars off the squad list for the La Liga Matchday 1 clash against Valencia. The decision has raised eyebrows among fans and analysts, particularly as the player was expected to play a crucial role in a 4-2-3-1 formation, supporting pivots Marc Bernal and Casado, with wingers Raphinha and Lamine Yamal flanking him. The omission has led to speculation regarding the player's future at the club, especially as he joins Clement Lenglet, who is reportedly linked with a transfer to Atletico Madrid. Both players were anticipated to be fit for the match, making their exclusions all the more puzzling. Notably, there was no indication from Flick that the player, who previously captained the German national team, was unfit to play. According to journalist Gerard Romero, citing anonymous sources, the absence of Ilkay Gundogan from the squad is due to an eyebrow injury sustained during Barcelona's recent 3-0 defeat to AS Monaco in the Joan Gamper Trophy. Meanwhile, there is hope for a potential early return of Pedri, who is recovering from an injury sustained in the same match against Germany, although introducing him to the starting lineup at Gundogan's expense would be considered unwise. As the season begins, fans will be closely monitoring the situation surrounding these key players and their impact on Barcelona's campaign.