As: Ter Stegen to be Appointed New Captain at Barcelona, Flick Hopes Lewandowski Will Be Vice-Captain

The Spanish newspaper AS has reported that following Sergio Roberto’s departure from Barcelona, the club will appoint Marc-André ter Stegen as captain. Ronald Araújo and Frenkie de Jong are expected to become two of the three vice-captains, with coach Flick hoping to select Robert Lewandowski as the third.

The report states that one of the big challenges for Flick is choosing a captain to lead the team. With Sergio Roberto gone, Marc-André ter Stegen, one of last season’s four “captaincy committee” members, is the frontrunner to become the new captain of Barcelona. This is not just due to his seniority but also because of language considerations. The German coach might face difficulties in accurately conveying orders or instructions when translating from German to Spanish (or other languages), making ter Stegen the ideal choice for this role.

For the three vice-captain positions, Araújo and De Jong would likely gain approval from the dressing room. There are two ways to determine the third vice-captain: either by a player vote or by a direct appointment by the coach. Traditionally, Barcelona has held a player vote, but the candidates are agreed upon after consultation with the coach.

Currently, there are two contenders for the position: star forward Robert Lewandowski and Pedri. AS reports that Flick prefers the Polish forward, believing he would set a clear example for his teammates. However, if Pedri were to be elected, it could also serve as a good role model for younger players within the squad. A final decision will not be made until August, as Flick plans to wait until after the European Championship and the return of Olympic participants before announcing his choice.