Barcelona set to reward Gerard Martin with first-team status

According to Marca, the 23-year-old will take a significant step forward in his career next season, with the club's sporting department planning to grant him full first-team status after an impressive end to the current campaign.

It has all come as something of a surprise for the Esplugues de Llobregat native, who did not expect to play such a key role at the start of the season.

Up until January, he had featured in just 12 matches — only six of them as a starter — but gradually earned his place in the rotation. With Balde sidelined through injury, Martin has gone on to feature in some of the team's most crucial fixtures.

His breakthrough began with the second leg of the Champions League last 16 against Borussia Dortmund, and he has only missed one match as a substitute since — the league clash against Mallorca.

He started against Celta, the Copa del Rey final against Real Madrid, both legs of the tie against Inter, as well as recent encounters with Real Valladolid and Sunday's decisive Clasico.

The technical staff have been pleased with what they've seen. Despite a few rough moments — notably during the closing stages at the Giuseppe Meazza — Martin has contributed positively.

He delivered two assists in that very match, and days earlier set up Fermin's comeback goal at the Jose Zorrilla. Against Real Madrid at Montjuic, he was both solid and ambitious, coming close to scoring with a powerful long-range effort that Courtois denied at the last moment.

Across the season, Martin has played 1,691 minutes over 39 appearances, starting 17 times, scoring once and providing six assists.

Flick is convinced the former Cornella player has seized his opportunity and sees clear growth potential. As such, the German coach wants him to be part of his left-back pairing with Balde — and to finally trade in his number 35 shirt for an official first-team squad number.