Hansi Flick says he would be delighted if one of Barcelona’s players won the Ballon d’Or, with the nominees for football’s leading individual award due to be announced on 8 September.
The Barcelona head coach was asked about the chances of the club’s players ahead of this year’s ceremony, when the winner will be revealed in London on 26 October.
“We have many fantastic players, and I would be delighted if one of them won the Ballon d’Or,” Flick said.
The German coach, who leads Barcelona, was speaking about the prospects of the club’s footballers in the vote for the Ballon d’Or. His comments came as attention turns to the announcement of the shortlist and the race for the main individual prize.
The nominees are scheduled to be confirmed today, 8 September. The winner will then be presented with the award at a ceremony in London on 26 October.
Flick did not identify one particular Barcelona player as his preferred candidate. Instead, he praised the strength of the squad as a whole and said he would welcome any of the club’s “fantastic players” receiving the honour.
His comments place Barcelona’s squad at the centre of the discussion before the shortlist is published. The Ballon d’Or will be decided by a vote, with the successful player receiving the award at the London ceremony.
For Flick, the key point is not which individual Barcelona player eventually emerges as the leading candidate. He made clear that he would be pleased if any member of his squad won the prize.
The announcement of the nominees on 8 September will provide the first official indication of which Barcelona players remain in contention. The final outcome will not be known until the ceremony on 26 October.
Barcelona’s head coach therefore enters the build-up to the event with a broad message of support for his players. Rather than narrowing the focus to one name, Flick underlined his belief that the club has several footballers capable of being considered for the game’s major individual award.
The Ballon d’Or remains the subject of the latest questions surrounding Barcelona’s squad, with the list of nominees set to be released before the winner is chosen at the ceremony in London. Flick’s position is clear: he would be happy to see any one of Barcelona’s players collect the trophy.