The defense of FC Barcelona is widely seen as the weakest area of the squad at the moment, a situation that has been exacerbated by a series of setbacks.
Andreas Christensen is sidelined with a long-term knee injury, Ronald Araujo is currently unavailable due to a leave of absence, and the club also lost one of its most reliable defenders from last season, Inigo Martinez, who departed last summer.
Against this backdrop, Barcelona have intensified their search for defensive reinforcements and are seriously considering entering the winter transfer market. Several names have been studied internally, and recent reports indicate that a move for a new centre back in January remains a realistic possibility.
According to SPORT, the latest defender to enter Barcelona’s orbit is Bournemouth centre back Marcos Senesi. The 28-year-old Argentine international is out of contract at the end of the season and has been closely monitored by the Blaugrana sporting department.
Juventus are also interested in the left-footed defender, who is an undisputed starter for Bournemouth and one of the most consistent centre-backs in the Premier League.
BOURNEMOUTH, ENGLAND - AUGUST 09: Marcos Senesi of AFC Bournemouth during the pre-season friendly match between Bournemouth and Real Sociedad at Vitality Stadium on August 09, 2025 in Bournemouth, England.
Photo by Michael Steele/Getty Images
Senesi would be open to making the move to Barcelona this winter, provided an agreement can be reached between the clubs. However, the Catalans are reluctant to make a significant financial outlay for a player who will be available on a free transfer in just six months.
Instead, the club’s priority is to sign a defender on loan or secure a low-cost option for the remainder of the season.
The situation is further shaped by Senesi’s own stance, as he has made it clear that he does not intend to renew his contract with Bournemouth. This opens the door for the English club to seek a financial return in January rather than risk losing him for nothing at the end of the campaign.
Internally, Barcelona are expected to define their defensive strategy in the coming days. A meeting between sporting director Deco and head coach Hansi Flick is scheduled for next week to decide the ideal profile.
The club also plans to complete the registration of Christensen’s long-term injury before the end of the year, which would allow them to use 80% of his salary margin until the end of the season.
Barcelona remain cautious and will not sign a player simply for the sake of adding numbers. Senesi is seen as a potential market opportunity, but he is not the only option under consideration.
Other alternatives include a possible loan move for Manchester City defender Nathan Ake, while Deco has also made enquiries about younger centre-backs who could arrive on loan with a purchase option.