FC Barcelona’s goalkeeping plans for the 2026/27 season have become clearer with coach Hansi Flick deciding not to include La Masia prospect Iker Rodríguez as a permanent member of the first team. Instead, Rodríguez will focus on playing for Barça Atlètic, where consistent competitive minutes are seen as essential for his development.
Last season, Flick identified that limited game time had hindered young goalkeepers’ progress. Diego Kochen, who was third-choice goalkeeper, played very little, and both Kochen and Ander Astralaga have since left the club, opening up opportunities behind the first and second goalkeepers.
The current hierarchy has Joan García confirmed as the starter, with Wojciech Szczęsny as his deputy. Rodríguez, widely regarded internally as the most complete goalkeeper in Barcelona's youth setup, trained with the first team during preseason but the club does not plan to keep him permanently on the senior bench.
At Barça Atlètic, Rodríguez will compete for the starting spot with Eder Aller and Max Bonfill. He will still train with the first team when possible and might play some matches under Flick’s management, but his primary environment will remain Barça Atlètic.
This decision reflects a development-focused strategy rather than any limitation on Rodríguez’s long-term prospects at the club, prioritizing regular playtime to maximize his growth as a goalkeeper.
