Mamadou Mbacke – FC Barcelona completed their final training session earlier today ahead of tomorrow’s La Liga clash with Elche at the Estadi Olímpic Lluís Companys, as Hansi Flick put the finishing touches on his side’s preparations.
With several defensive concerns heading into the weekend, the Barça boss once again looked to his reserve ranks for support, calling up a handful of players from Barça Atlètic to train alongside the senior squad — including promising defender Mamadou Mbacke.
According to Mundo Deportivo, Flick decided to involve the 22-year-old Senegalese centre-back in Friday’s session due to the current state of his defensive options. Andreas Christensen remains unavailable, while Pau Cubarsí did not take part in full training earlier in the week as a precaution.
Mbacke’s inclusion in the senior setup therefore comes at an important time, and his presence in training could signal a possible call-up to the first-team squad for Saturday’s fixture.
A powerful defender earning Flick’s trust
Mbacke has endured a stop-start campaign so far. He began the season on the sidelines with an injury that kept him out of action for several weeks, but returned to start three consecutive games for Rafa Márquez’s Barça Atlètic side before suffering another minor setback. The defender only made his comeback last week and is now looking to build momentum again.
Despite his recent interruptions, Mbacke is well-regarded within the club for his strong physical presence, aerial ability, and composure on the ball.
Signed from Los Angeles FC in 2023 — initially on loan before making the deal permanent — Mbacke has made 51 appearances for Barça Atlètic, scoring two goals along the way. His performances in Spain’s third tier have earned him growing recognition as a potential future option for the senior side.
With Barcelona set for a busy run of fixtures before the next international break, tomorrow’s match could present Flick with an opportunity to freshen up his backline — and Mbacke might just find himself rewarded with a spot on the bench.
Whether or not he features, the Senegalese defender’s inclusion in training is another encouraging sign of his steady progress within the Barcelona setup.
