Line by line, Barça is proving this season to be the best team in LaLiga in terms of performance and results, something it has also demonstrated in other competitions such as the Copa del Rey, where it won the title, and the Champions League, where it is fighting for a place in the final against Inter Milan. The arrival of Hansi Flick has given the Azulgranas back an identity reminiscent of the club’s golden age.
There are several outstanding players who are indispensable to the German coach, such as Iñigo Martínez, Szczesny, Lamine Yamal, Pedri, Raphinha, Balde, and Jules Koundé. However, if there is one thing that has characterized Barça this season, it is that they are a team in capital letters. There have been injuries and players seeking rest due to the busy schedule, but the B team has performed perfectly.
In recent weeks, this has been more evident than ever. On the one hand, Balde’s injury has opened the door to a starting spot for Gerard Martín, who had been plagued by doubts, but he has responded well. On the other hand, Lewandowski’s notable absence has been more than compensated for by Dani Olmo and Ferran Torres.
Jules Koundé, an indispensable hero
The most used player at Barça is right-back Jules Koundé, who had been playing non-stop for months and Flick decided to rest him against Mallorca so that he would be in the best possible condition for the Copa del Rey final against Real Madrid. A final in which the French full-back emerged as the hero by scoring the winning goal for Barça in extra time.
This hero’s status means that Barça are already working hard to renew his contract, which they are looking to extend until 2030. The player, a physical powerhouse who seems immune to fatigue and injury, also wants to continue at Barça, where he feels at home in the team and in Sitges, where he has settled.
Barça are looking for competition
Despite his great performance and his ability to respond more than favorably to the workload, the Azulgrana team is looking for a reliable replacement to help manage the minutes in the various competitions. Currently, his substitute is youth player Héctor Fort, who, although he has performed well in the minutes he has had, does not have enough support from the coach, who wants a player with more experience.
A €35 million candidate
Immersed in this search, Barça’s technical department, led by Deco, is closely monitoring Wesley’s performance with Flamengo. The player is a diamond in the rough who could be a weapon for the competitive Barça team. The problem is that FC Barcelona’s finances will not allow it to compete on equal terms with the other clubs interested in the player, which are none other than two Premier League giants: Manchester City and Liverpool. The €35 million price tag is pocket change for the English giants, but not for Barça.
As we said, the competition will be fierce for a young footballer who is also causing a real stir in the Premier League. In the last few hours, RTI Espote has provided new information about Barça’s interest in Weslay, pointing out that Liverpool and Manchester City have already begun to make moves, putting all their eggs in one basket to get ahead of Laporta in the signing of the full-back. In fact, the Brazilian defender’s agents have traveled to England to meet with the Reds and the Sky Blues.