Girona still have Barcelona midfielder Brian Farinas on their radar ahead of the January transfer window, even though the two clubs have not opened talks over a winter move.
The 20-year-old earned a promotion to Barcelona’s senior squad and the number 4 shirt after Hansi Flick blocked his departure in the summer. However, Farinas is still waiting to make his competitive debut for the first team.
According to Mundo Deportivo’s report on 28 October, there have been no new contacts, discussions or negotiations between Barcelona and Girona. Even so, neither club nor the player has ruled out a move in January, including the possibility of Girona asking for a loan. For now, a winter move remains a potential option rather than a deal in progress, with no confirmed offer on the table and no indication that Farinas has asked to leave.
How Flick stopped a summer move to Girona
Girona made a serious push to sign Farinas during the summer transfer window rather than simply monitoring him from a distance. Talks between the two Catalan clubs advanced considerably over a proposal that would have seen Girona pay €1.5 million for 50 per cent of the player’s rights, rather than buying his full registration.
That offer never turned into a completed transfer because Flick stepped in to keep the midfielder at Barcelona. Having joined the club from Villarreal in 2018, Farinas worked his way through the youth ranks and became a key player for Barça Atletic under Juliano Belletti. His ability to play in different central midfield roles made him an attractive target for Girona and caught Flick’s eye during pre-season.
Wanting to assess the youngster at senior level, Flick decided to hold on to him. Barcelona confirmed Farinas’ official first-team registration on 1 September, highlighting the 35 appearances, five goals and six assists he recorded for the reserve side during the 2025/26 season.
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Senior promotion has yet to bring competitive minutes
Moving up to the senior squad has allowed Farinas to train daily alongside established first-team players, and Flick included him in several matchday squads early in the campaign. Despite that involvement, he had not played a single competitive minute by the time of Mundo Deportivo’s 28 October report, leaving him as the only member of the first-team squad still waiting for an appearance this season.
Heavy competition in the middle of the pitch has limited his opportunities. While Farinas can fill multiple roles in central midfield, he is competing for places against several proven senior options. Training at a high level helps a young player, but he also needs competitive football at this stage of his career to build experience and show he belongs in the top flight.
Defensive injuries offer another possible route into the side
Farinas may not have to rely purely on midfield openings to get onto the pitch. His versatility also gave Flick an option at right-back during Barcelona’s pre-season friendly against Birmingham City on 31 July, when Farinas replaced Xavi Espart and played 28 minutes in defence. Mundo Deportivo reported that he handled the position well, which further convinced Flick to keep him in the squad.
That summer experiment has taken on greater relevance following a string of injuries in Barcelona’s back line. Espart was ruled out for around seven weeks with an ankle injury, while Eric García was still recovering from a thigh problem at the time of the latest Girona report. In addition, Jules Koundé had not returned to full training ahead of the match against Alavés scheduled for 31 October.
One brief outing in a friendly does not make Farinas a specialist right-back, and Flick has other ways to cover the position. Even so, the shortage in defence gives the youngster a fresh chance to earn his debut before the turn of the year.
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Contract plans and what comes next
Barcelona’s handling of Farinas’ contract suggests the club still values his long-term potential despite his lack of minutes. Mundo Deportivo reported on 6 October that Barcelona included him in their next planned round of renewals so his terms would reflect his place in the senior squad. His current deal runs until 2028, and his representative has already met sporting director Deco, though no extension has been agreed or announced.
A contract renewal and a January loan would not conflict with each other. Barcelona could secure Farinas on updated long-term terms while still deciding that a temporary spell elsewhere offers the best path for his development over the second half of the season.
What happens on the pitch over the coming weeks will likely guide the next step. If Farinas breaks into Flick’s rotation during the current injury spell, Barcelona will have little reason to let him leave in the winter. If he remains unused by the time the transfer window opens, Girona’s lingering interest could offer a practical solution for all sides.
