Latest news with #Flick
Morocco World
a day ago
- Business
- Morocco World
FC Barcelona Signs Goalie Joan Garcia
Rabat – FC Barcelona have announced a deal with Joan Garcìa as their first signing of the season. The 24-year-old goalkeeper joined with a $25 release clause from city rivals Espanyol. The six-year contract runs until 2031 and was accepted by La Liga on Tuesday evening. García has attracted Premier League interest, especially from Arsenal. But, he chose to join Barcelona, becoming the first player to move directly from Espanyol since Igor Korneev in 1994, despite the intense rivalry between the two Catalan clubs. Barcelona's sporting director Deco called the clause 'a market steal.' Flick pushed for new competition after Barcelona conceded 39 league goals and 11 goals in the Champions League. García led the league with 146 saves and played every minute of Espanyol's 38 matches, helping the Espanyol avoid relegation. Analysts credited his sharp reflexes (73.7 % save rate). In Hansi Flick's second season, Barcelona wanted new goalkeeper options. They used Garcìa's low release clause, which didn't affect Financial Fair Play rules inside the club. García is seen as Ter Stegen's long-term replacement. Stegen's high salary, injuries, and poor form led Barcelona to look for a new goalkeeper. Although he's the captain and under contract until 2028, the club is now pushing him to leave. With García's arrival, Flick now has four goalkeepers: Ter Stegen, García, Szczęsny, and Iñaki Peña. But the club knows that this strong lineup can't continue. Either Szczęsny or Peña is expected to leave before the transfer window closes. Tags: FC BarcelonaFC Barcelona and Real Madrid
Morocco World
4 days ago
- Sport
- Morocco World
Barcelona Cancels Casablanca Friendly
Rabat – FC Barcelona have cancelled plans to play a pre-season friendly in Casablanca on August 7, deciding the extra trip would overload a squad already facing a two-week Asian tour and the Joan Gamper Trophy three days later. According to Mundo Deportivo, head coach Hansi Flick and sporting director Deco told president Joan Laporta that the team's rest and recovery are more important than earning new match fees. The Asian tour in Japan on July 27, then South Korea fixtures on July 31 and August 4, is projected to earn around $10 million, but also involves 12 days of travel and three high-intensity matches. Both Flick and Deco felt returning to Barcelona on August 5, only to board another flight to Morocco 48 hours later, and then face the Joan Gamper at Spotify Camp Nou on 10 August, would risk fatigue and injury just as Flick was trying to prepare for the La Liga opener. Barça will open their tour against Vissel Kobe at Kobe's Noevir Stadium, followed by games versus FC Seoul and Daegu FC, which are all part of 'The Blaugrana Tour, Asia Edition, by Philips Ambilight TV' campaign. The itinerary marks the club's first Asian pre-season in six years. Then they'll be back home, to play the traditional Joan Gamper Trophy likely against the Italian club Como, coached by former Barça star Cesc Fàbregas, to play their first game in the new renovated stadium Spotify Camp Nou. Barcelona had reached 'advanced negotiations' with a local promoter to stage the Casablanca match, which would have been the Catalans' first appearance in Morocco since 2018's Super Cup. While the deal is off for 2025, both parties left the door open to reschedule 'in a future off-season when the calendar is lighter,' Mundo Deportivo notes. Tags: BarcaFC BarcelonafriendlyJoan Gamper Trophy
Yahoo
07-06-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Hansi Flick plots summer swoop for ex-Bayern Munich veteran
Hansi Flick is considering a shock free transfer move for his Barcelona squad in the ongoing summer market. On the back of winning three trophies in his debut season in charge, Flick is not looking for major changes, but he will bring in some new faces. Advertisement The swirling question marks over who will be his No.1 next season will rumble on, amid rumours of Marc-Andre ter Stegen is leaving, with Espanyol's Joan Garcia coming in. Liverpool winger Luis Diaz has dropped multiple hints over his interest in a move to Barcelona despite Arne Slot's desire to keep him on Merseyside. However, Flick could make a left-field call, with reports from Mundo Deportivo claiming he wants to bring in 36-year-old Ivan Perisic as a free agent, after missing out on him in 2024. Perisic to Barcelona: Flick's trusted lieutenant Flick has utilised his relationship with Robert Lewandowski to great effect as the pair revived their link from Bayern Munich. Advertisement Lewandowski ended the 2024/25 season with his best numbers as a Barcelona player and Flick believes Perisic could add huge experience to his squad. Ivan Perisic The Croatia international completed a move to PSV Eindhoven last summer and he netted 18 goals in all competitions as they overhauled Ajax in the Dutch Eredivisie title race. There is no indication either way that he will sign a renewal in the Netherlands and he could be tempted by joining Flick and Lewandowski in Catalonia. Ivan Perisic in 2019/20 at Bayern Munich Perisic only played one season under Flick in Munich – on loan from Inter Milan – but 2019/20 saw the pair win a Bundesliga, DFB Pokal and UEFA Champions League treble together. Advertisement The versatile winger netted eight goals and played a crucial role in Flick's set up which could be utilised at Barcelona. A move to Spain would not be as a starter, but his flexibility and goal threat could be valuable, to allow for key rests for Lamine Yamal and Raphinha.
Yahoo
05-06-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Flick says Barcelona ready to rebound from Inter loss against Madrid in clasico
BARCELONA, Spain (AP) — Hansi Flick knows there is no better painkiller for Barcelona's gut-wrenching Champions League exit to Inter Milan than beating Real Madrid in a decisive clasico. 'After the defeat in Milan, everyone knows it was not easy after that match, but I think we are doing great,' Flick said on Saturday, a day before Barcelona hosts Madrid in a game that will go a long way to deciding the Spanish league title. Advertisement Barcelona was moments away from a thrilling comeback at Inter on Tuesday before the Italian side struck a last-gasp equalizer and secured a 4-3 extra-time win. Inter will play Paris Saint-Germain in the European final. Barcelona, in turn, must refocus on its chance to complete a domestic double and leave Madrid without a major trophy this campaign. It hosts Madrid while holding a four-point lead in La Liga over its top rival. Barcelona has won all three clasicos this season across all competitions, including a recent victory in the Copa del Rey final. Making it four of four will in itself be a great achievement for Flick in his first season in charge. 'We have spoken about that and about what we are going to do in the next two weeks,' the German coach said. 'There are four more matches to go and of course the clasico tomorrow is for us very important for us to show again how good we can play. It is about our confidence.' Advertisement Balde and Lewandowski will appear Flick said left back Alejandro Balde and striker Robert Lewandowski will be available for 'minutes in the second half." Balde missed the Inter tie with a left thigh injury. Youth player Gerard Martín started in his place and struggled on the defensive end. Lewandowski, who leads Barcelona with 40 goals this season, was sidelined for two weeks with a left thigh injury until he played the final minutes of Barcelona's loss at Inter. Ferran Torres will most likely start in his place on Sunday. ___ AP soccer: Joseph Wilson, The Associated Press
Scoop
03-06-2025
- Business
- Scoop
The Sale Of A Top-Rated Power Company Signals A Shrinking Market
Flick Electric has been named New Zealand's top-rated power company in Consumer NZ's latest energy retailer survey - but the win comes with an unexpected twist. Flick achieved a standout satisfaction score of 71% (very satisfied), earning a People's Choice award. Flick was recently sold to Meridian Energy – the parent company of Powershop, which failed to meet the People's Choice standard in 2025. In contrast to Flick, Powershop, a seven-time People's Choice winner since 2015, has seen a notable drop in satisfaction – from 67% in 2024 to just 60% this year, pushing it out of the top tier for the first time in years. 'Flick has consistently rated well in our surveys, so it's disappointing to see it absorbed by a larger player,' says Jessica Walker, Consumer NZ acting head of research and advocacy. 'Flick customers have been typically among the most satisfied. We don't know what the future holds for Flick customers, but there is a risk it will be consumers who will bear the brunt of reduced competition.' The poorest performers this year are Pulse Energy (41%), Contact Energy (44%) and Mercury (47%). Contact Energy and Mercury are two of the largest energy providers in the country and are known as 'gentailers', electricity companies that both generate and retail electricity directly to households. Meridian Energy was the third-best performing power provider in the survey results and notably the highest-ranking of this country's four gentailers. Frank also earns People's Choice, but sector-wide ambivalence is up Frank Energy joins Flick in receiving a People's Choice award, with 65% of its customers reporting high satisfaction. However, broader trends across the industry point to a decline in overall positivity and a rise in customer ambivalence. 'More people are rating their power providers as 'just OK' rather than great,' says Walker. 'It's a clear sign that satisfaction is softening, and the market isn't delivering the value or the service that New Zealanders expect.' Frank's parent company is also a gentailer, Genesis Energy, which falls into the middle-of-the-pack category. Key findings from the 2025 survey Value for money scores have dipped across much of the sector. Fewer problems were reported. Amongst those who did, there was a slight drop in satisfaction with the retailers' handling of issues. Confidence in the electricity market is low. 36% say it's working poorly for New Zealanders. Signs of hardship are rising. More missed payments, overdue fees, borrowing to pay bills and disconnections. Loyalty won't lower your bill - shop around Walker urged consumers not to stay loyal to underperforming providers. 'Power is the same no matter who you buy it from – but price and service vary widely,' she says. 'There's no reason to stick with an expensive or unhelpful provider.' Powerswitch, Consumer NZ's free and independent power comparison tool, helps people find better plans and providers. On average, people who check power options through Powerswitch can typically save around $500 a year. 'With satisfaction falling and pressure on household budgets rising, take action now,' Walker says. 'More than half a million New Zealand households in the past year alone have used the Powerswitch service. It's quick and easy to switch!' Note: Consumer NZ energy retailer survey data is from a nationally representative survey of 1,985 New Zealanders, aged 18 years and over, carried out in March and April 2025. Satisfaction rating shows the proportion of respondents who scored their retailer 8, 9 or 10 on a scale from 0 (very dissatisfied) to 10 (very satisfied). Ratings are for retailers that had 30 or more responses in our survey. View the results here.
