Barcelona has left LaLiga waiting for the final verdict after coming from behind to beat Real Madrid, who once again conceded a heavy defeat to the Azulgrana side, which is now seven points clear and closing in on the double. In the same week that they cruelly bowed out of the Champions League against Inter Milan, Hansi Flick’s side managed to turn the situation around and move closer to the domestic title in the best possible way.
In recent weeks, Barça has recovered from injury problems that weakened the defense and allowed Hansi Flick’s team to concede too many goals. Those goals did not have any consequences in LaLiga, but they did knock them out of the Champions League, where they conceded four goals.
Koundé misses out on the best
One of FC Barcelona’s key absences has been Jules Koundé. The player has been indispensable for Hansi Flick all season, who has had to manage without him for several key games, relying on the great form of Eric García, who has more than made up for the absence of the full-back, although he has been missed since he went down in the first leg of the Champions League.
It was in the 42nd minute of the game when the French full-back went down. Barça did not confirm how long he would be out, but Jules Koundé has a distal injury to his left thigh biceps femoris, which has ruled him out of the Champions League return leg against Inter Milan and El Clásico.
The player was playing his 53rd game of the season against Inter, having started 50 and only coming off the bench as punishment for arriving late, having missed only the La Liga game against Mallorca due to Flick’s decision to give him a rest.
He is undisputed and the decision of the Barça team is clear. A renewal is in the works, with an agreement almost reached between the club and Jules Koundé, who will sign a new contract until 2030. This would mean three more seasons and the player would continue until he is 31, with a small salary increase.
Barça is looking for competition
Despite his great performance and his more than favorable response to the workload, the Azulgrana team is looking for a reliable replacement to be able to manage the minutes in the different competitions. His natural replacement is Héctor Fort, who is not convincing, and although Eric García has performed perfectly, it is not his natural position and is an emergency option. They want a reliable full-back who can raise the level of the squad.
Frimpong is within reach
One of the names that has been linked with Barça is Jeremie Frimpong, a wing-back from Bayer Leverkusen who is extremely attractive due to his physical and technical qualities and his versatility. The full-back prioritizes playing in Spain and his asking price is set by a clause. According to Sky Germany, the player has several important offers on the table, but has prioritized playing in LaLiga EASports.
Frimpong has been at Bayer Leverkusen for five seasons and has a contract until 2028. Bayer Leverkusen has no intention of negotiating, and his release clause is around €35-40 million, which may be a bit excessive for a player who would arrive as a substitute. Furthermore, given Barça’s financial situation, it would be essential to offload players to make room under the salary cap in order to register the full-back, something that seems impossible at the moment.