Barcelona talent in danger of missing pre-season tour due to squad overbooking

Barcelona’s young goalkeeper Diego Kochen may face disappointment this summer as his chances of joining the first team on the pre-season tour remain uncertain.

According to Mundo Deportivo, despite his talent and potential, Kochen finds himself in a crowded goalkeeping department under new manager Hansi Flick.

The 19-year-old will be called up to start pre-season with the senior team and will report to Ciutat Esportiva Joan Gamper on Sunday, July 13, for medical tests and training.

However, with four other goalkeepers already in the squad, his inclusion in the upcoming friendlies in Japan and South Korea looks unlikely.

Five goalkeepers too many for one tour

As it stands, Kochen is the fifth-choice keeper behind Marc-Andre ter Stegen, Inaki Pena, new signing Joan Garcia, and the experienced Wojciech Szczesny, who recently renewed his contract.

Diego Kochen might not have a place in the pre-season. (Photo by PAU BARRENA/AFP via Getty Images)

While Kochen is expected to be the starting goalkeeper for Barça Atletic this season, thanks to Ander Astralaga’s confirmed loan and Aron Yaakobishvili’s likely exit, his role with the senior squad might be limited for now.

Last year, Hansi Flick brought four goalkeepers on the pre-season tour to the United States, and Kochen was part of that group. But this summer, the situation is different, with two new faces in the mix.

The club still believes in Kochen’s long-term potential and has included him in early training sessions, but his presence on the tour will depend on how the situation unfolds over the next few days.

Kochen is well aware that this season could define his future at Barcelona. He has been training hard on his own during his vacation to prove his worth, but for now, his chances of making the flight to Asia remain up in the air.

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