FC Barcelona’s goalkeeper planning for the 2026-27 season has taken a clearer shape, with Hansi Flick deciding against retaining La Masia prospect Iker Rodríguez as a permanent fixture in the first-team setup. According to Mundo Deportivo, Rodríguez will instead be based at Barça Atlètic, where regular competitive minutes are considered essential to his continued development.
The decision is rooted in Flick’s own assessment of how the previous season unfolded. Diego Kochen spent the season as third-choice goalkeeper during Flick’s first season in charge, and accumulated very little match time in that role-an outcome the German coach views as having materially hindered the American goalkeeper’s development. Kochen has since departed the club, as has Ander Astralaga, leaving the third-choice slot open heading into the new campaign.
With Joan García confirmed as the starting goalkeeper and Wojciech Szczęsny continuing as his deputy, the hierarchy above Rodríguez is settled. Rodríguez, widely regarded internally as the most complete goalkeeper in Barcelona’s youth ranks, has been part of first-team preseason training – he was among the La Masia call-ups included in Flick’s preseason group – but the club has no intention of tethering him to the senior bench on a permanent basis.
At Barça Atlètic, Rodríguez will compete for the starting position against Eder Aller and Max Bonfill. The arrangement also allows for continued integration with the first team: the report says he will train with the Barcelona first team when opportunities arise and might also get to play some matches under Hansi Flick, but Barça Atlètic remains his primary environment. The rationale, as the source frames it, is squarely developmental rather than a reflection of any ceiling placed on his long-term prospects at the club.
