Barcelona have handed Brian Farinas a first-team shirt without giving him a first-team debut, creating a rare piece of club history in the process.
According to Mundo Deportivo, the midfielder has become the first Barcelona player in 19 years to be registered with the senior squad without making an official competitive appearance for the first team.
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Farinas has been given the No. 4 shirt for the 2026/27 season, a number that became available after Ronald Araujo moved to Liverpool on loan.
This decision comes against the backdrop of a remarkable turnaround for a player who, only weeks ago, looked set to leave the club altogether.
Rather than heading to Girona, Farinas is now an official part of Hansi Flick’s first-team squad, and the German coach appears to be the main reason for that turnaround.
Flick changed Farinas’ Barcelona future
Farinas’ promotion is particularly striking because his first-team registration comes without a single minute of competitive football at senior level.
Barcelona have registered Brian Farinas as a first-team player. (Photo by Timothy Rogers/Getty Images)
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His only appearances so far have come in pre-season matches.
Notably, that could have been very different, as Girona had moved close to completing a deal for the midfielder, but Flick intervened and stopped the transfer because he wanted to assess Farinas personally.
The decision appears to have worked in the youngster’s favour.
After working with him, Flick was impressed by Farinas’ attitude and versatility and instead of seeing a player who needed to move elsewhere, the coach began to see someone who could potentially contribute around the first-team group.
As a result, the midfielder has now been included in all three La Liga matchday squads this season, although he is still waiting for the moment when Flick actually sends him onto the pitch.
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Farinas follows a path rarely seen at Barça
Most notably, the last Barcelona academy player to receive a first-team squad number without having previously made his senior debut was Giovani Dos Santos.
Giovani Dos Santos made his Barcelona debut in 2007. (Photo by Koji Watanabe/Getty Images)
The Mexican forward emerged during Barcelona’s 2007 pre-season and made a particularly strong impression on Frank Rijkaard.
Dos Santos finished that summer as Barça’s leading scorer with four goals, performances that ultimately convinced the club to keep him with the senior squad.
His competitive debut followed soon afterwards.
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On the second matchday of the 2007/08 La Liga season, Dos Santos came off the bench in Barcelona’s 3-0 victory over Athletic Bilbao, playing the final half-hour.
Farinas, on his part, has not yet reached that stage.
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