Despite their financial limitations, FC Barcelona have assembled an excellent team for Hansi Flick, which has very few weaknesses. The German coach can field a starting eleven of top-class players, while the squad also has good depth and backup options for these starters.
This high quality of the squad was quite apparent last season, as the Blaugranes won all the big titles in Spain and were also quite close to reaching the final of the UEFA Champions League.
One reason why they were unable to reach this final was the absence of some key starters, who were unable to play in the second leg of the semi-final tie against Inter Milan.
One such player was the fullback Jules Kounde, who permanently shifted to the right-back position for the last season. In fact, with the way he performed, no one could have told that he is naturally a centre-back and not a right-back.
He was one of the most used players by Flick during the last season, as he played 53 games for Barcelona, scoring 4 goals and providing 8 assists.
Manchester City made inquiries about Jules Kounde
Clubs other than Barcelona also took notice of the excellent season that the Frenchman had, and this is clear from a report from Mundo Deportivo, which claims that the Premier League side Manchester City and another unnamed big European club made inquiries about Kounde.
However, they did not get a favorable response as the French star is planning a renewal with the Blaugrana club.
The former Sevilla centre-back also made the headlines last season for some negative purposes, i.e., getting punished by Flick for his lack of punctuality. However, he still maintains a very good relationship with the coaching staff and the sporting directors.
Renewal negotiations underway with Barcelona
His current contract goes till 2027, but the report claims that the player’s entourage has held fruitful talks with the Catalan club in recent weeks to renew his contract. As things stand, both the parties have good feelings about this operation.
The fact that the French defender still has two years on his contract makes his renewal a less urgent matter for Barcelona. However, the Blaugranes will still try to conclude his renewal this summer, if their Financial Fair Play situation allows.
At 26 years of age, Jules Kounde is at the height of his career and is the established right-back at Barcelona. He wants to continue enjoying this status for several years to come, and with the way he has played since joining the club, the fans would also love to see him remain their starting right-back.
Much like how Chicken Road amazed the Slotsjudge team with its blend of entertainment and strategy, Koundé’s rise at Barcelona reflects how consistency and adaptability can earn widespread recognition, even in highly competitive environments.
