Barcelona delay first-team residence project to prioritise new gym for Hans Flick

Barcelona have put plans for a new first-team players’ residence on hold so they can prioritise the construction of a larger gym at the Ciutat Esportiva Joan Gamper, following a request from manager Hans Flick.

The club, led by president Joan Laporta, had included the accommodation project among its planned developments at the training complex. The proposed hotel was to be built next to the Tito Vilanova pitch and used exclusively by first-team players.

According to the Barca Reservat podcast, as reported by Sport, Barcelona have decided to defer the residence project while work focuses on the new gym. The accommodation was initially intended to help the squad stay together before matches, including selected home fixtures, while also providing a place for players to rest after matches and training sessions.

Since taking charge, Flick has brought back the practice of gathering the squad before certain games, a system that also applies to some matches played at home. Barcelona had previously approved the residence project, but construction has now been suspended because of the club’s immediate building priorities.

The delay is not considered a permanent cancellation. Reports from Barca Reservat estimate that the residential complex would require an investment of between 12 and 14 million euros, significantly above the original budget of 6 million euros. The club has therefore postponed the scheme until a later date.

The new gym beside Camp Tito Vilanova is now Barcelona’s urgent priority, according to the Catalan newspaper. The facility is being developed in response to Flick’s request for more space for the first team’s physical work.

Barcelona’s existing gym, located in one of the buildings at the Ciutat Esportiva, has become too small for the squad’s needs. The team is devoting increasing time and resources to physical conditioning, recovery work and individual player preparation, making a larger facility necessary.

Construction of the replacement gym is taking place directly alongside the pitch. It will feature large glass walls, allowing a clear view of the training field, and the work is close to completion.

The facility is designed to allow players to combine outdoor sessions with targeted exercises aimed at improving strength, flexibility and speed. It will also provide space for physical recovery programmes, giving the first team a broader base for its training and conditioning work.