Hansi Flick Shocks Fans by Naming Raphinha Captain and Snubbing Frenkie de Jong—What’s Behind the Controversial Decision?

Barcelona has been one of the clubs that saw the most movement during the 2026 summer transfer window, not only with the new signings, but also with numerous departures. With a new squad being rebuilt, head coach Hansi Flick has picked Raphinha as the new team’s main captain while also revealing the reasons to drop Frenkie de Jong from the selection.

Out of the players that spent the most years in the club, in the list of departures included Marc-Andre ter Stegen and Ronald Araujo, who left Barcelona on loan to Ajax and Liverpool respectively. With also veteran Robert Lewandowski departing as a free agent to the MLS, Flick was forced to look solutions and players with character to hold the captain bracelet and lead the team.

While in the first preseason friendlies against Birmingham City, Nottingham Forest, and Udinese, Andreas Christensen held the captain bracelet, the Swiss center back is far from being the first pick in the defense. In the last preparation game against FC Basel, with numerous stars returning to the first team, while Christensen started, it was Raphinha who held the bracelet from the start.

On talks with the club social media, Hansi Flick was asked about the process of choosing a new captain and if Raphinha will be the main user of the bracelet on the field: “Yes, Rafa will do it. Because normally Frenkie is the third, because Marc (Ter Stegen) and Ronald (Araujo) are out. But Frenkie he is not available at the moment, and I decided for the captains till we vote.“