FC Barcelona Manager Hansi Flick Makes New Signing
FC Barcelona coach Hansi Flick is poised to appoint Holger Broich as the new physical preparation expert for the first team, replacing Julio Tous. This significant change follows a challenging 2025/2026 season marked by a concerning surge in player injuries, including key figures like Raphinha, Balde, and Kounde. Flick himself voiced dissatisfaction with the injury rate, prompting the need for a new approach. Broich, who previously worked with Flick during Bayern Munich's sextuple-winning campaign, brings a trusted partnership and a proven track record. While Tous will remain at the club, moving to Barca Atletic, Broich's terms are agreed, pending final contract sign-off, as Flick seeks to enhance player fitness and prevent future setbacks.
FC Barcelona head coach Hansi Flick is on the verge of making a new signing. According to Mundo Deportivo and Cadena SER, citing anonymous sources, Barça has already reached an agreement with Flick's new chosen physical preparation expert Holger Broich.
Julio Tous was appointed as the head of the physical preparation department when Flick replaced Xavi Hernandez as first team manager in the summer of 2024.
With the Catalans claiming five out of the six major Spanish trophies on offer over the past two seasons, while Real Madrid went without silverware, you could call Tous and Flick’s time together a success.
In 2025/2026, however, tensions arose when Raphinha relapsed just before the October Clasico lost to Madrid in the Bernabeu.
The following March was a particularly difficult month too. Alejandro Balde and Jules Kounde suffered muscle injuries in the same game, which was the Copa del Rey semifinal second leg won 3-0 against Atletico Madrid. Unfortunately, however, the scoreline wasn’t big enough to overturn a 4-0 defeat in the Metropolitano in the fixture’s first installment.
Raphinha once again fell to a hamstring knock on international duty with Brazil, and he therefore missed both legs of the Champions League quarterfinal elimination to Diego Simeone’s men in April.
“I’m not happy about these injuries. We have several injured players and this is not good. Things have to be improved; you have to talk to the doctors and physical preparation professionals about how to prevent three players from being injured in a week,” Flick said in reference to his two full-backs, plus Frenkie De Jong.
The players have reportedly raised concerns too, and the situation overall called for a change of airs.
Tous will not leave the club and will instead oversee the Barça Atletic reserve team and a bunch of Juvenil A U-18 prospects viewed as having a chance of making the elite.
Broich is tipped to assume his new role alongside Pepe Conde, Rafa Maldonado and German Fernandez. Flick received full backing from the club to choose a man he trusts, who can be credited with his part in their success at Bayern Munich together at the turn of the decade.
That’s when the Bavarians scooped a sextuple containing the 2019/2020 Champions League crown, memorably destroying Quique Setien’s Barça 8-2 in the quarterfinal.
The incoming signing’s terms have already been agreed, and all that remains now is for the likes of President Joan Laporta and other executives on the board to sign off on his FC Barcelona contract.