FC Barcelona is having a somewhat complicated season. After an almost perfect 2024/2025 financial year, Hansi Flick’s troops are having a little more difficulty this season. The Catalans in particular have a number of problems behind, with an extremely fragile defense. The fault lies in this very high line of defense that the opponents now know how to undermine, in individuals below their level like Jules KoundĂ© and Pau Cubarsi, but also in the departure of Íñigo MartĂnez, who left for Saudi Arabia and was not replaced by management.
The statistics are also unequivocal: Barça is the second worst defense in the top 12 of La Liga with 15 goals conceded in 12 days. Only Sevilla FC – 19 goals conceded – is worse. Fortunately, the Blaugranas are saved by an offensive sector which, although a little worse than last year, remains quite efficient. But management knows that things need to change.
Beautiful people
If the file for number 9 to replace Robert Lewandowski continues to excite the crowds, the arrival of a central defender is considered just as important if not more. Deco and his men already have a list of priorities for this position, and at the top of that list is Nico Schlotterbeck. The German defender from Borussia Dortmund is the player that management likes the most and his contract at BVB is coming to an end soon (2027).
Gonçalo Inacio, the Portuguese from Sporting CP, is also on the list, with the same contractual situation as his German counterpart. Marc GuĂ©hi, English defender who will be free in June, is also in the Catalans’ little papers, but everything indicates that the salary requested by the Crystal Palace player risks being too high, while all the English big names are on him. The name of Dayot Upamecano, also free at the end of the season, is also mentioned but here too, it is a difficult avenue, in particular because of Real Madrid’s lead in this matter. Finally, Nantes native Tylel Tati (17 years old) is cited as a superb option for the medium-long term.
