Barcelona names Lamine Yamal and four others to 2026/27 captaincy group

Barcelona has finalized its leadership hierarchy for the 2026/27 season following the departures of Marc-Andre ter Stegen and Ronald Araujo. The club confirmed Raphinha and Pedri as the first and second captains, respectively, after an internal squad vote. Eric Garcia, Frenkie de Jong, and Lamine Yamal round out the five-man leadership group. While the selections of Garcia and De Jong align with their experience and previous roles, the inclusion of 19-year-old Yamal marks a shift toward recognizing current on-field influence over seniority. Manager Hansi Flick oversaw the process, which began with temporary selections earlier in the summer before transitioning to the formal player-led vote. The new structure serves to provide leadership stability for the current campaign.

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