Although FC Barcelona started the season with a surplus of centre-backs in their squad, the Catalans still have had to rely on the duo of Inigo Martinez and Pau Cubarsi for almost the entirety of this 2024-25 season.
This is mainly because two other key Blaugrana defenders, Ronald Araujo and Andreas Christensen are out with long-term injuries. Fortunately, the former is already getting near to a return from his injury and can make a return to the field in one of the next two games.
Following his recovery, Araujo is expected to remain an important part of the Barcelona squad, especially as his contract renewal talks are also going more smoothly than previously.
However, Andreas Christensen, who will still need some time to recover from the tendinopathy in his left ankle, has a more uncertain future at the Catalan club.
The Dane underwent surgery for this issue around a month ago, and he is expected to return to the field at the end of this year or after the Christmas holidays.
But despite the long time spent on the sidelines, the €30 million-rated defender’s demand in the market is still high, and several Premier League teams are interested in him, especially as he already has proven himself in the competition with his time with Chelsea.
However, Mundo Deportivo cites the Italian journalist Gianluca di Marzio to claim that he also commands considerable interest elsewhere on the continent, as three Italian teams, Juventus, Inter Milan, and AC Milan also have their eyes set on him.
Recently, Christensen publicly showed his desire to remain at Barcelona. However, with the form that Martinez and Cubarsi have shown, and Araujo’s already important status in the team, he might not get too many opportunities to play, and a departure from Barcelona might be the best option for him going forward.
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BARCELONA, SPAIN - NOVEMBER 30: Raphinha of FC Barcelona reacts after a missed chance during the LaLiga match between FC Barcelona and UD Las Palmas at Estadi Olimpic Lluis Companys on November 30, 2024 in Barcelona, Spain.
BARCELONA, SPAIN - NOVEMBER 30: Raphinha of FC Barcelona scores his team's first goal during the LaLiga match between FC Barcelona and UD Las Palmas at Estadi Olimpic Lluis Companys on November 30, 2024 in Barcelona, Spain.
NOTTINGHAM, ENGLAND - NOVEMBER 10: Alexander Isak of Newcastle United celebrates scoring his team's first goal during the Premier League match between Nottingham Forest FC and Newcastle United FC at City Ground on November 10, 2024 in Nottingham, England.