Since the start of this season, Hansi Flick has not made too many changes in the FC Barcelona backline, as Pau Cubarsi and Inigo Martinez have started almost all of the matches for their team up to now.
In this regard, they have been helped by the fact that Ronald Araujo and Andreas Christensen have been unable to play because of their injuries, while Eric Garcia has also had to spend a lot of time on the sidelines.
However, significant changes in the team’s backline are expected to take place in the next summer transfer window, as recent reports indicate that Barcelona have decided to sign the German defender Jonathan Tah ahead of the next season, who will arrive at the Catalan club after having ended his contract with Bayer Leverkusen.
Meanwhile, Deco is also not willing to let go of Ronald Araujo and wants both Tah and the Uruguayan to be in the Blaugrana squad for the next season.
LEVERKUSEN, GERMANY - OCTOBER 01: Jonathan Tah of Bayer Leverkusen looks on during the UEFA Champions League 2024/25 League Phase MD2 match between Bayer 04 Leverkusen and AC Milan at BayArena on October 01, 2024 in Leverkusen, Germany.
Photo by Lars Baron/Getty Images
Moreover, according to SPORT, the Barcelona Sporting Director wants to have four reliable center-backs in the squad for the next season.
Thus, in addition to these two players, Pau Cubarsi, who is one of the club’s bets for the long term, and Inigo Martinez, who is performing at a very high level this season and is also the only left-footed player in the backline, are likely to be the team’s center-backs for the next season.
In such a situation, Tah’s arrival would not be too good news for two other center-backs, Eric Garcia and Andreas Christensen, as they are the two chosen by Barcelona to be the casualties as they are not going to get a lot of minutes going forward.
Christensen, who is expected to return from his injury in January, has already made it clear that he wants to continue at Barcelona, but it remains to be seen whether he will change his mind if he does not get any prominence till the end of the season.
Similarly, Eric Garcia has already the door open for him to leave in January. Meanwhile, Jules Kounde’s situation will also be a subject of interest as he still wants to play in the center despite having played as a right-back this season.
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RIYADH, SAUDI ARABIA - JANUARY 14: Ronald Araujo of FC Barcelona looks dejected with his runners-up medal after the team's defeat in the Super Copa de España Final match between Real Madrid and FC Barcelona on January 14, 2024 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
Barcelona defender Ronald Araujo with Hansi Flick.
FC Barcelona head coach Hansi Flick with club director Deco planning for the 2024-2025 season.