After Barcelona’s defeat to Leganés, it became clear to the Blaugrana board that the team urgently needed reinforcements.
According to information from the Spanish newspaper “El Nacional”, Hansi Flick has made his position clear, stating that the priority in the upcoming winter transfer market will be to sign a left-back who can compete with Alejandro Balde. Balde’s performance has come under heavy criticism in recent times.
The lack of competition for this position not only harms the development of the young academy player, but also affects the tactical decisions of coach Hansi Flick, who lacks reliable alternatives for the left wing.
This issue became even more apparent after the humiliating defeat in Montjuïc to Leganés, which exposed several flaws in Barcelona’s defense. Although Balde was a regular in the lineup, his performance in that match fell short of expectations, as he appeared lacking in confidence and made critical mistakes at key moments.
One of the prominent names under consideration by Deco is Álvaro Carreras, the young left-back from Benfica. Carreras has had an outstanding season in the Portuguese league, establishing himself as one of the most sought-after full-backs on the market.
The Spaniard possesses qualities that perfectly suit Barcelona’s needs: great speed, the ability to contribute in attack, and, most importantly, a solid defensive presence that could strengthen the weaknesses that have been evident in Balde’s performances of late.
However, signing Carreras will not be easy. Benfica are reluctant to part with one of their key players in the middle of the season, meaning any move will require a significant financial investment from Barcelona. Nevertheless, Joan Laporta, the club’s president, is determined to support the process, knowing that strengthening the left-back position is crucial if the team wants to maintain its chances in both domestic and European competitions.
For his part, Hansi Flick has voiced his concerns to the sporting directors about the lack of defensive options. The German coach understands that having more alternatives in this position is vital to improving the team’s defensive performance. In fact, signing a new left-back could provide Flick with greater tactical flexibility.