It seems to be clear enough that the loss of Inigo Martinez was a big one for FC Barcelona. Beyond the financial benefits or anything of that sort, his exit took a clear toll on the team’s sporting capabilities. For Hansi Flick, he was an undeniable guarantee in this team.
Without Martinez, Flick now has the likes of Pau Cubarsi, Ronald Araujo, Andreas Christensen, and Eric Garcia to rely on as his centre-back options. However, considering that most of them do have recurring injury issues, Flick reportedly wants another defensive recruit as well.
Hansi Flick wants a new defender in January
For that reason, according to Fichajes, the Barça coach wants the club to sign a defender for his team in the winter transfer window. While it is too complicated to bring in a new defender right now, January could potentially open up the door for a new arrival.
However, the winter transfer window is often a complicated one as well. With clubs unwilling to part ways with key players at such a crucial stage of the season, negotiations can often become more complicated than they normally would be.
Deco seems to agree with the Barcelona coach
Still, Flick has put in that demand and Barça is reportedly working on it. As per the report, Deco seems to agree with the first team coach that a new defensive recruit is needed, especially considering the departure of Inigo Martinez, and is quietly working on bringing in a defender who can compete from the very first day.
At the moment, reports are apparently being drawn up to sort out what kind of player to bring in. Reportedly, the profile that is being looked at is that of a player who is both experienced and can quickly adapt to the way that Barça wants to play.
For now, the priority of the club for the winter transfer window is the arrival of a new defender. While top players like Alessandro Bastoni continue to be linked to the club as well, such targets are more realistic for the 2026 summer transfer window rather than as immediate targets.
