Barcelona is already looking to the future and in particular to its defensive line, where Xavi Hernández is not happy with the performance of some of his central defenders. Looking ahead to next season, the Catalan club is looking at a number of measures to strengthen its defense and improve its solidity on the pitch.
Possible changes in Barcelona’s defense:
Eric Garcia:
Despite the expectations surrounding his return to Barcelona last season, Eric García has failed to establish himself as a mainstay in defence. The young centre-back, who is on loan at Girona this season, has shown a good level during his loan spell which has caught the attention of other clubs. According to sources close to the team, Barcelona would have decided to take advantage of his good performance in Girona to sell him next summer and thus generate good financial income that could be used to strengthen other areas of the team.
Chadi Riyadh:
One of the surprises when planning for next season is the return of Chadi Riad to Barcelona. The central defender, who moved to Real Betis in a previous stint, has proven himself at the Andalusian club. Recognizing his potential and the need to strengthen their defense, Barcelona decided to snap him up from Real Betis for a sum close to €7 million. Riad will have the opportunity to complete the pre-season under the leadership of Xavi Hernández and fight for a place in the starting eleven.
These possible changes to Barcelona’s defense reflect the club’s ambition to be competitive again at national and international level. With the experience of Chadi Riad and the possible sale of Eric García, the team is looking to balance youth and experience in defense.