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While Barcelona is working to restructure its starting lineup, carefully manage wages, and offload certain contracts, a new factor has emerged within the club that could disrupt some of these plans.

It is neither an administrative decision nor the technical vision of the new coach; rather, it is the growing influence of a rising young player whose voice is becoming increasingly prominent at Camp Nou. This influence could reshape calculations that were already considered settled.

Sources close to the club have revealed that there are behind-the-scenes efforts led by one of the most prominent stars of the club’s new project, in an attempt to keep a specific name off the departure list, even though that player is entirely outside the current technical plans.

Rising star Lamine Yamal, who has inherited a rare status at Barcelona following his contract renewal, has begun to use his influence within the club in remarkable fashion. Much like Lionel Messi did in a previous era, it appears that Yamal has chosen to intervene in order to protect one of his closest friends in the dressing room: Héctor Fort.

Although coach Hansi Flick excluded the player from his plans early on and asked the management to find a suitable solution, Yamal is doing his utmost to prevent the decision from being finalized, insisting that Fort be given another chance to prove himself.

The German coach informed management that Héctor Fort is not a primary option, especially after realizing that Eric García can perform effectively at right-back. With a lack of playing opportunities, even in friendly matches, the management began quietly pushing the player towards an exit.

Fort did not play a single minute in the first match of the Asian tour against Vissel Kobe, and he is expected to be excluded again from the upcoming matches as part of a strategy to persuade him to leave. Despite all this, the player still rejects the idea of leaving, holding on to his hope of staying with the team.

The management prefers to loan him out or sell him with a buyback clause and retain a percentage of any future sale. This model was recently used with Pablo Torre. However, the direct support of Lamine Yamal could shift the dynamics, especially if he succeeds in convincing Laporta and Deco to give his young friend a second chance.

As a result, between the technical staff’s desire to streamline the squad and the growing influence of a young star earning everyone’s trust, it seems that Héctor Fort’s future will be decided not just on the pitch but also behind the scenes in the Barcelona dressing room.