Frenkie de Jong has slipped down Barcelona's captaincy pecking order for the 2024-25 season, dropping from third to fourth captain as manager Hansi Flick reshapes the club's leadership structure following the departures of Marc ter Stegen and Ronald Araujo.
The Dutch midfielder's demotion came after Flick delegated the captaincy selection to the squad itself for positions three through five. Raphinha has been appointed first captain with Pedri serving as his regular deputy, a significant shift from last season when Ter Stegen and Araujo held the top two positions. Eric García emerged as third captain in the squad vote, pushing De Jong down a place despite expectations he would ascend following the departures of those two senior figures.
Squad-Led Captaincy Vote Reshapes Barcelona's Hierarchy
Flick opted to personally select only Raphinha and Pedri, explaining his reasoning during a press conference: "I did not want to decide on the other three, only on these two, because they are very important." The remaining spots were determined entirely by player vote, reflecting Flick's philosophy of squad empowerment. At just 19 years old, Lamine Yamal rounds out the five-captain structure as fifth in line, becoming one of football's youngest official captains.
García's elevation to third captain underscores the centre-back's standing under Flick. The Spanish defender has built considerable trust through his professionalism, discipline and tactical commitment. "In the end, the team chose these players and for me it is a good group, with leadership," Flick noted, emphasizing his reliance on collective responsibility.
De Jong remains sidelined through injury heading into Barcelona's clash against Valencia on Sunday. With Real Madrid having suffered a surprise 1-0 defeat to Real Betis on Friday, Flick's side have an opportunity to capitalize on dropped points in La Liga's early stages.
